Tanzania: Activists, Experts Call for Tobacco Total Ban

Source from:  Tanzania Daily News 04/07/2015

Health experts and anti-tobacco activists have received the Tobacco Products Regulations recently published in the government gazette with a frown, demanding for a total ban.

Speaking exclusively to the 'Daily News on Saturday' , Family Health Consultant, Dr Ali Mzige said that the coming into force of the regulations means that the sale and use of tobacco will remain lawful despite the many problems that surround it.

"While this coming into force may be considered a victory for those who have been pushing for it for over 10 years, people need to know that 30 per cent of all cancers globally originate from tobacco products including snuff, chewing tobacco, kuberi and shisha.

These are very toxic and sometimes other ingredients are put in, which are lethal to our lungs and brain," he said.Dr Mzige said that after reading through the regulations and felt that some of the clauses are not clear enough like that of having larger health warning imprints on the packs including Tar and Nicotine without saying the increase should form what percentage to the other.

He said that the regulations have also failed to instruct tobacco manufacturers to state in both English and Kiswahili these warnings such that everyone in society is able to get informed on the health implications of using these products.

"In Kenya, the warnings on cigarette packs clearly state that the use of these products can result into erectile dysfunctions, recurrent miscarriages and health complications from passive smoking.

There is a hospital in India that sees a record 100 patients a day with tobacco related complications," he cited. An anti-tobacco activist who preferred to remain anonymous said that the regulations that were released by the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, much as they were welcome should have taken aboard more stakeholders' views.

He said firmer action on the part of the government is needed to discourage smoking in the country. "I would propose a total ban," he stressed.

However, an official in the Ministry of Finance said tobacco remains legal and the Treasury makes huge sums per year from taxing it, apart from being the main source of income for hundreds of farmers in various parts of the country.

Mr Simon Kejo, a cigarette smoker of over two decades said that even if the whole pack is plastered with health warnings, his 'love' for tobacco will remain constant.

"I have been smoking for over 20 years and I still feel as fit as a fiddle. Since I started smoking these warnings have been here, I believe when my time to die comes, I will just go whether I was smoking or not," he noted.

Some of the provisions of the new regulations state that all forms of promotion, advertisement and sponsorship are prohibited effective March 5, 2015 save for placement of point of sale materials at point of sale only, trade programmes, product merchandising and display at point of sale, corporate information not related to a tobacco brand and sponsorship for a good cause with no promotional interest.

Other provisions include brand names associated with sports are prohibited effective March 5, 2015 where all manufacturers are advised to plan ahead for full compliance with the regulations including removing all advertising and promotional materials in areas not deemed as a point of sale in all public places not later than May 31, 2015. Enditem