Tobacco Standard still at GNBS, not at Tourism Ministry

Dec 24, 2009 News

The tobacco standard is not at the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce. Rather, it is still receiving the attention of the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS).
This is according to the Public Relations Officer of the GNBS, Lloyd David, who in a press statement to the media noted that the GNBS is still examining the documents under its standard development process.
Kaieteur News in its December 12, 2009 edition had carried an article under the headline, “Tobacco Standard stalled at Tourism Ministry”. That report quoted Project Officer of the Guyana Chest Society, Eshwar Raghunath, expressing his dissatisfaction that although the standard was developed, it is still to receive the approval from the Tourism Ministry.
Minister of Health, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, had also expressed his dissatisfaction with the process, as he had revealed that the Tourism Ministry is once again going through another stage of public consultation before the standard is approved.
But surprisingly, the GNBS now claims that the standard is still engaging its attention, as it was noted in the press statement that “the development and production of a standard must go through a series of steps and stages in following due process and transparency requirements, and there must be adequate public consultation countrywide. Such consultations target all sectors, both public and private.”
According to the GNBS, although the Draft Tobacco Standard was finalized as a Voluntary National Standard in August 2009, the standardization process requires that further steps be taken before the Standard is submitted to the Minister of Tourism, who also must ensure that all requirements are fulfilled before the standard is submitted to Cabinet for approval.
“Mr. Raghunath, like many others, need to understand that the standardization procedure is unique, and as such, it is unethical for anyone to pronounce on a matter that he/she is not knowledgeable.”
The GNBS also noted that there was no communication between the Guyana Chest Society and Mr. Ragnauth, with the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce.
The GNBS also denied that the private sector was given another chance to comment on the standard in keeping with the request from the Tourism Minister.
“The GNBS is not aware of any new amendments required of the standard. The Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce and the GNBS, are aware of the importance of making the said standard mandatory and understand the urgent need for Guyana to satisfy the requirements of the Framework Convention for Tobacco Control (FCTC) to which Guyana is a signatory. Due process however must be followed to ensure full transparency.”
Additionally, it was noted that the GNBS is currently tracking the status of the proposed Draft CARICOM Standard for Tobacco Products that is currently being developed by the CARICOM Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality (CROSQ) that would replace the current National Standard.
In 2005, Guyana signed onto the World Health Organisation (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), where there are several articles within that treaty that addresses the control of tobacco as well as its demand and supply.
Since then, Governments had three years to implement the various principles of the treaty but Guyana is in breach of Article 11, which deals specifically with the packaging and labeling of tobacco products.
This article demands that Governments implement pictorial health warnings on cigarette packages, but to date, this is still to be done in Guyana.

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Tobacco Standard still at GNBS, not at Tourism Ministry

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