Government puts the squeeze on cigarette makers

KUALA LUMPUR: Cigarettes manufacturers are banned from using words such as “lights”, “ultra lights”, “low tar” or “mild” on their packaging.

Promotion sales of cigarettes are also disallowed and, as such, display of words like “promotion”, “promo”, “discounts” and “limited edition”, are prohibited.

Sale of cigarettes with other items, such as lighters, is also banned.

Health Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai said this following the amendments to the Control of Tobacco Products Regulations 2004, approved by the Cabinet in January.

He said the number of smokers went down by only 2% after the introduction of the Tak Nak campaign in 2004, a situation he described as unsatisfactory.

“This is one of our measures to bring the figure down and we are also looking at other methods, including increasing cigarette prices,” he said after launching the National Celebration of World No Tobacco Day 2008 here yesterday.

Tobacco companies have six months to get rid of old stock that did not meet the new requirements.

“By Dec 1, all cigarette boxes must also carry pictorial health warnings, which will occupy 40% of the front display panel and 60% of the back.

“According to the third National Health and Morbidity Survey (2006), 2.73 million people are smokers, who puff away 33 million sticks daily,” he said, adding that the group spends RM8.59mil daily on the habit.

In George Town, CAP called on the Federal Government to raise the minimum age for buying tobacco products from 18 to 21 in a bid to reduce smoking among teenagers.

Adapted from TheStar Online on Sunday June 1, 2008