Nigeria: Tobacco Control Bill - BATN Supports Balanced Regulation

Source from:  Vanguard  04/25/2014

British American Tobacco (BAT) has reacted to the decision by the Federal Executive Council, FEC, to send an executive bill to the National Assembly, saying it supports a balanced regulation of the tobacco industry.

According to Mr. Freddy Messanvi, Director for Corporate and Regulatory Affairs for West Africa, the company's position on regulation remains the same.

He said: "BAT supports effective regulation of the tobacco industry. For regulation to be effective and achieve its objectives it must be balanced and enforceable.

"BAT has always stated its support for tobacco regulation. In the past, however, the company had asked that the drafting of tobacco control bills must be clear of ambiguities in other for it to be enforceable.

"The company had also maintained that tobacco control laws must ensure that the legal industry is not affected by such laws to the undue advantage of criminal tobacco smuggling rings. Enditem