Cambodia to get tough on tobacco firms

Phnom Penh’s City Hall warned tobacco companies at a meeting last week to stop flouting a sub-decree that is supposed to prohibit all forms of tobacco advertising, or else face fines or closure, according to a story in The Phnom Penh Post.

The municipality said some companies were skirting the 2011 sub-decree by using creative ways to sell their products.

While the companies had stopped using overt forms of advertising, such as those on television, radio and billboards, a municipal investigation had revealed that some companies were still advertising using restaurants, female promoters, tuk-tuks and lucky draws, said Chan Sokun Thea, director of the Inter-Sector office of the Phnom Penh Municipality.

Meanwhile, according to Dr. Yel Daravuth, a national officer with the World Health Organization’s Tobacco Free Initiative, the companies continued violating the order because no fine was imposed on them if they did so.

But Daravuth said an upcoming law to curb smoking in Cambodia was under discussion at the ministerial level, and might be passed as soon as next year.

The law would prohibit all tobacco advertisements across the nation, and ban smoking in public places such as bars and restaurants.

“I think this time it will be better – this time it’s not a sub-decree, it’s a law,” said Daravuth.