TRƯỜNG ĐẠI HỌC Y TẾ CÔNG CỘNG

 HANOI UNIVERSITY OF PUBLIC HEALTH

The Conference on introducing Project "Advocating for Tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship (TAPS) bans regulation"

Hanoi, May 5th 2015. The conference on introducing the “Advocacy for Tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship (TAPS) bans regulation” Project was organized and took place at the Delight Hotel.  This project is conducted and implemented by Hanoi School of Public Health and funded by Tobacco Free Kids Action Fund (TFK).  The participants of this conference were representatives of the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Culture, Sport and Tourism, and Vinacosh, Vietnam Public Health Association (VPHA) and delegates of provinces and cities where the project has been implemented were present.

Recognizing the importance of using tobacco on public health, the tobacco harm prevention law was issued in 2012, including banning indoor smoking in most public places and workplaces. Hanoi School of Public Health has also adopted and applied the law to become the first tobacco free university in Vietnam.

Assoc. Prof Bui Thi Thu Ha, Dean, Hanoi School of Public Health gave the opening speech

From 2009 until now, the school has received much support from TFK to implement the projects which are related to tobacco harm prevention in Vietnam. In 2015, TFK continues to support the implementation of the project "Advocating for Tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship (TAPS) bans regulation in tobacco retail outlets in Vietnam, 2015 - 2016" with the purpose to provide evidence of the violations on tobacco advertising and promotion in Vietnam. From there, the team may propose recommendations and measures to strengthen the implementation of Tobacco Prevention Law for policy makers.

 

Dr. Le Thi Thanh Huong, Project Coordinator, Deputy Head of Environment and Occupational Health Faculty, HSPH presented at the conference

At this conference, Dr. Le Thi Thanh Huong, Project Coordinator and Deputy Head of HSPH Environment and Occupational Health Faculty, gave an overview of the context, objectives, contents and the expected results of the project. The presentation attracted the attention and discussion of many participants.

Mr. Le Thanh Liem, Deputy Head of Legal Affairs, Ministry of Culture, Sport and Tourism

Ms. Pham Quynh Nga, WHO programme officer

According to survey data from 2014, advertising and promotion violations were observed in 1.200 retail locations in the 6 provinces of Thai Binh, Hai Duong, Khanh Hoa, Binh Dinh, Dong Tháp and Bac Lieu. The shops selling tobacco did post signs stating “Banning Sales the tobacco products to people under 18,” however, the size of the label was very small and difficult to observe. According to MPH Tran Khanh Long, lecturer of Environmental Health Department: “Tobacco Control Law has regulated that in all retail shop cannot display more than 1 bag or 1 carton of tobacco brands at the same time.” However, it is very easy to see the shop has Malboro red, green and white at the same time. Generally, the rate of regulation violations has not changed much since the issuance of the Tobacco Control Law. 

 

MPH Tran Khanh Long presented the violation situation for tobacco sales in retail shops

MPH Nguyen Ngoc Bich – Vietnam Public Health Association said that VPHA has done a study toward the compliance of Tobacco Control Law in 6 provinces in 2014. The results have shown that 55% of subjects observed smoking behavior at weddings; 52% at restaurant-cafe bar, karaoke; 21% of subjects observed smoking behavior in the work area and inside the house.
The delegates from various ministries and provinces discussed and proposed many recommendations and measures to strengthen the enforcement of tobacco advertising and promotion bans as well minimize existing gaps in the relevant regulations.

(TH)