Vietnam Proposes Tobacco Law Revision to Ban New Products

According to Nguoiduatin's report on November 10th, the Vietnamese National Assembly will begin the questioning session of its eighth meeting on the 11th. The Minister of Health will answer questions in the afternoon of the 11th regarding the harms of tobacco, especially its impact in school environments.

Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan pointed out at the meeting that the Ministry of Health has submitted multiple reports to the government and parliament on the regulation of new tobacco products such as e-cigarettes and heated tobacco. These products have serious impacts on health, the economy, society, and the environment, particularly posing a direct threat to young people.

The Ministry of Health has stated that it is collaborating with the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Information and Media, and other agencies to implement various measures to raise awareness and prevent the harm of new types of tobacco. However, the report also points out some current issues, such as the lack of effective legal management mechanisms for e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products.

The Law on Tobacco Hazard Prevention and Control does not have the concept of "e-cigarette" or "heated tobacco"; there are no regulations on the accessories and accompanying devices used in e-cigarettes or heated tobacco products; currently, there are no specific regulations or standards for quality management of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products, and no designated agency is responsible for overseeing it.

Article 23, paragraph 3 of the Tobacco Hazards Prevention Law only stipulates that the Minister of Health shall promulgate national regulations on cigarette technology. Therefore, e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products are not within the jurisdiction of the Tobacco Hazards Prevention Law.

The Ministry of Health has recommended amending and supplementing the Tobacco Hazard Prevention and Control Act, and plans to introduce a new law to ban the production and sale of new tobacco products such as e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products in order to strengthen legal regulation.

Furthermore, there are plans to increase the special consumption tax on new tobacco products in order to achieve the strategic goal of reducing tobacco usage rates by 2030. Additionally, the Ministry of Health believes that strengthening public education and awareness about the harm of these products is also considered as an important measure to prevent their widespread dissemination.