SON Introduces New Cigarette Standards

Source from:  tobaccojournal.com 28 May 2008 06/03/2008

The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), has developed a set of standard for cigarettes, to be effective from 1 July, 2008. In order to ensure that there is a regulatory framework that serves as a basis for determining the minimum standards for cigarettes, SON has developed a set of standards that cigarettes must meet for them to be acceptable in the Nigerian market. The reviewed cigarette standards dictate that from July all cigarette packs should carry a reminder that cigarettes should not be sold to persons under 18 years of age. The proof of quality must be assigned only by SON, and the Federal Ministry of Health's warning must be displayed on 30 per cent of the back and front panels. In furtherance of this objective, the Technical Committee on tobacco products spent months reviewing the Standards to include packaging and labelling requirements in line with what obtains in most developed countries. According to Director General SON, Dr. John Akanya, prior to 2001, there was an uncontrolled influx of sub-standard and counterfeit cigarettes into the country. Due to SON's interference by 2004, the incidence of counterfeit cigarettes in Nigeria had been reduced from over 50 per cent in 2001 to less than 10 per cent in 2004. However, sub-standard and counterfeit cigarettes are still a major issue for the country. It was stressed that it is not the intention of SON to force legal businesses that trade in tobacco products out of the country as people would still continue to smoke and the void would be filled by criminals. The enforcement of the new standards will take effect at the ports starting from next month. Enditem