Tobacco control bill passed allowing public smoking
| DATE: 2010-08-02 | PRINT | Share
The bill submitted by the government on July 22, 2009 prohibited public smoking. But the article was amended by the parliamentary committee that studied the bill allowing smoking in places such as parks and halls.
The bill passed with the consent of 50 out of 61 members present in the sitting. While 11 members voted against the committee’s proposal, nine members abstained.
Some MPs spoke in favour of the bill while others who were against banning public smoking noted it was too harsh for the Maldives society and instead recommended to increase the import duty for tobacco by 300-500 percent and the price of a cigarette pack to Rf50.
Several members stressed that several countries have harsh laws to control tobacco usage and argued that such a law to the Maldives society is necessary.
According to the bill, smoking is not allowed in a workplace or part of a workplace specified by a regulation.
The bill specifies smoking be prohibited in health centres, mosques, child welfare centres, educational institutes, government authorities, sports institutes, and playgrounds. It also makes involving a minor in trade or use of tobacco illegal.
| DATE: 2010-08-02 | PRINT | Share
MALE, August 2, 2010 (HNS) – The parliament Monday passed the Bill on Controlling Tobacco allowing smoking in public places.
The bill submitted by the government on July 22, 2009 prohibited public smoking. But the article was amended by the parliamentary committee that studied the bill allowing smoking in places such as parks and halls.
The bill passed with the consent of 50 out of 61 members present in the sitting. While 11 members voted against the committee’s proposal, nine members abstained.
Some MPs spoke in favour of the bill while others who were against banning public smoking noted it was too harsh for the Maldives society and instead recommended to increase the import duty for tobacco by 300-500 percent and the price of a cigarette pack to Rf50.
Several members stressed that several countries have harsh laws to control tobacco usage and argued that such a law to the Maldives society is necessary.
According to the bill, smoking is not allowed in a workplace or part of a workplace specified by a regulation.
The bill specifies smoking be prohibited in health centres, mosques, child welfare centres, educational institutes, government authorities, sports institutes, and playgrounds. It also makes involving a minor in trade or use of tobacco illegal.
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