Iran: Health Ministry Announces Anti- cigarette Strategies

Source from:  Tehran Times 11/30/2015

The Health Ministry of Iran has announced six anti-cigarette strategies, Deputy Health Minister Ali-Akbar Sayyari said.

"Prohibiting selling cigarette to minors, banning smoking in public places, warning the public of the harms of smoking, encouraging those who are willing to quit smoking, increasing tariff on cigarette imports, and doing researches are the strategies," Sayari explained.

One of the effective methods to break this destructive habit is to adopt tax policies and price policies on tobacco products so as to contribute to the health objectives aimed at reducing tobacco consumption, he said, the ISNA news agency reported.

"Unfortunately, smuggling is one of the major obstacles we attempt to overcome by seeking help from other organization."

He added that "in line with our attempts to bring an end to tobacco trafficking, we have held meetings with the industry ministry and the taskforce to combat smuggling of commodities and currency." Enditem