Myanmar Demands Warnings on Cigarette Packs

Source from:  The Nation 08/18/2016

Myanmar health authorities demand cigarette packs sold in the country display mandatory health warnings.

The order will take effect on September 1 and manufacturers will have a six-month grace period to come to term with the order.

In a move to combat smoking, the Ministry of Health announced that all cigarettes in the market must display pictures and messages covering at least 75 per cent of the surface area of each pack.

"We will announce that this new requirement via TV, radio and other media will come into effect on September 1. [Their manufacturers] will get a six-month period [to include the warnings]. If they do not include the warnings after six months, they will face legal action," said Dr Thuzar Chit Tin, director of the Department of Public Health under the Ministry of Health.

The warnings will depict images of cancer patients, deformed fetuses and other diseases.

Cigarette packs without the warnings will be treated as contraband under the new ministry regulation.

Vendors selling contraband cigarettes will face a fine of between 10,000-30,000 kyats (approximately US$8.36-$25), while repeat offenders will be fined between 30,000-100,000 kyats ($25-$83.5) and will be sentenced to a one-year jail term.

According to the Ministry of Health's 2014 data, the smoking population is about 26.1 per cent. About 43.8 per cent of Myanmar men smoke, while 8.4 per cent of women smoke. Enditem