Cambodia’s tobacco law suffering teething troubles

Cambodia’s ministries of health and information are working together to put some teeth into last year’s law restricting the advertisement of tobacco products to points of sale, according to a story in The Phnom Penh Post.

During a workshop yesterday, ministry personnel, NGO staff and the media were said to have discussed cigarette companies’ non-compliance with the law. Mom Kong, executive director of the NGO, Cambodia Movement for Health, said that since the law was passed in May last year, ‘tobacco sellers’ had continued to place advertisements in public places.

“We still see the advertisements in forms that are contrary to what the law requires,” said Kong.

Meanwhile, Chhea Chhordaphea, director of the National Center for Health Improvement, said the government had made no enforcement moves thus far because the Tobacco Control Law specified no penalties for violators.

However, this might change. On January 13, the ministries wrapped up discussions on a draft decree on inspections and fines, Chhordaphea said. The draft would soon be sent for review to the Council of Ministers.

Last year’s law also banned sales to people less than 18 years of age, mandated that warning messages cover at least half of cigarette packs, and set restrictions on tobacco imports for personal use.