Noman Mosharef :
Scanty implementation of pictorial health warnings regarding the harmful aspects of smoking in cigarette packets is pushing the poor people in severe health risks in the country.
“Poor people are at risks of health hazards. 75 percent of tobacco products do not have pictorial health warnings,” according to a recent research report published in the Tobacco Control Journal of BMJ (British Medical Journal), an influential medical journal.
The report found that despite passage of the strict law in Bangladesh, there are still many violations and inequities in this regard.
The report on ‘Health Warnings on Tobacco Packets and Containers: Compliance Status in Bangladesh’ describes how the use and implementation of illustrated health warnings can be improved and how to reduce tobacco use.
In countries like Bangladesh, where hundred percent literacy rate and health
education are not yet confirmed, there is no alternative to pictorial health alert about the use of tobacco among the poor and non-educated populations.
The report pointed out that negligence in implementation of this law would ultimately endanger the poor people. The awareness among the retailers about the implementation of the Illuminated Health Warning Act is very low.
Researchers said that the consequences of tobacco addiction could be the consequences of one’s future life. If a single smoker consumes a pack of cigarettes a day, then at least seven thousand times a year and he will see the pictorial health warnings about the harmful affects of smoking in a cigarette packet.
In line with the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), the Bangladesh government amended the ‘Tobacco Control Act 2005’ in 2013. Through this amendment, there is a mandatory to addition of color photographs associated with harmful aspects of tobacco use in packets or packets of cigarette, bidi and smokeless tobacco products.
Under the law, it is mandatory to print pictorial health warnings on any packaging, carton and cottage packaging of any kind of tobacco products since March 19 in 2016. Noncompliance of the Tobacco Control Act is punishable a crime in Bangladesh.
According to the law, there are provisions for printing and changing the pictorial health warnings after every three months. Besides, this label must be imported or sold only in Bangladesh for packaging of all tobacco products made in the country.
In violation of the Illustrated Health Warning Act and its Rules, six months imprisonment or fine of two lakh taka or both have been approved. Once the person gets the second offense after the punishment, then the amount of punishment will also be doubled.
Scanty implementation of pictorial health warnings regarding the harmful aspects of smoking in cigarette packets is pushing the poor people in severe health risks in the country.
“Poor people are at risks of health hazards. 75 percent of tobacco products do not have pictorial health warnings,” according to a recent research report published in the Tobacco Control Journal of BMJ (British Medical Journal), an influential medical journal.
The report found that despite passage of the strict law in Bangladesh, there are still many violations and inequities in this regard.
The report on ‘Health Warnings on Tobacco Packets and Containers: Compliance Status in Bangladesh’ describes how the use and implementation of illustrated health warnings can be improved and how to reduce tobacco use.
In countries like Bangladesh, where hundred percent literacy rate and health
education are not yet confirmed, there is no alternative to pictorial health alert about the use of tobacco among the poor and non-educated populations.
The report pointed out that negligence in implementation of this law would ultimately endanger the poor people. The awareness among the retailers about the implementation of the Illuminated Health Warning Act is very low.
Researchers said that the consequences of tobacco addiction could be the consequences of one’s future life. If a single smoker consumes a pack of cigarettes a day, then at least seven thousand times a year and he will see the pictorial health warnings about the harmful affects of smoking in a cigarette packet.
In line with the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), the Bangladesh government amended the ‘Tobacco Control Act 2005’ in 2013. Through this amendment, there is a mandatory to addition of color photographs associated with harmful aspects of tobacco use in packets or packets of cigarette, bidi and smokeless tobacco products.
Under the law, it is mandatory to print pictorial health warnings on any packaging, carton and cottage packaging of any kind of tobacco products since March 19 in 2016. Noncompliance of the Tobacco Control Act is punishable a crime in Bangladesh.
According to the law, there are provisions for printing and changing the pictorial health warnings after every three months. Besides, this label must be imported or sold only in Bangladesh for packaging of all tobacco products made in the country.
In violation of the Illustrated Health Warning Act and its Rules, six months imprisonment or fine of two lakh taka or both have been approved. Once the person gets the second offense after the punishment, then the amount of punishment will also be doubled.
