Vietnam Steps Up Tobacco Control Under National Anti-Smoking Strategy

Key points:

1.The Vietnamese Ministry of Commerce releases new policy to strengthen enforcement of smoking regulations.

2. Emphasize strengthening tobacco market management and legal support.

3.Drive digital transformation to improve industry regulatory efficiency.

4.Multiple departments collaborate to crack down on illegal cigarette trading and consumption.

According to a recent report by Vietnam National Television, the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Vietnam has issued a notice regarding the directive of Minister Nguyen Hong Dien to continue strict enforcement of the Tobacco Harm Prevention and Control Law, and to achieve the national tobacco harm prevention and control strategic goals set forth in Prime Minister's Resolution No. 568.

According to the notice, a series of systematic measures will be quickly implemented from the central to local levels, focusing on improving laws and regulations, strengthening market supervision, enhancing inspections and handling illegal activities, as well as increasing legal publicity and education.

Specifically, the Minister of Commerce has instructed the Industrial Department to collaborate with relevant departments to research and formulate alternative plans to replace Regulation No. 67, simplify administrative procedures, incorporate regulations applicable to new types of tobacco, and integrate current guidance documents. The Industrial Department will also develop a tobacco management plan aimed at reducing domestic consumption and limiting community access channels.

The Minister of Domestic Market Management and Development has called for strengthening inspection and supervision to ensure compliance with tobacco business laws and to take strict action against illegal activities. At the same time, joint law enforcement departments will crack down on smuggling, illegal sales, and tobacco of unknown origin.

In addition, the company will enhance legal education for businesspeople, consumers, and government officials, promote the use of information technology in management, and organize training to improve the abilities of law enforcement officers.

In terms of legal affairs, the minister instructed the responsible department to cooperate with relevant agencies to review and improve the legal system for tobacco production and sales, ensuring consistency and systematization of regulations, cutting unnecessary procedures, strengthening control over wholesale and retail, especially targeting young people.

The Department of Exports and Imports will be responsible for revising and supplementing Notice 37, which pertains to the import of tobacco products. The revised notice will be submitted for ministerial review in the second quarter of 2025. Additionally, stricter monitoring of the import and operation of tobacco products in airport duty-free shops will be implemented to prevent commercial fraud.

The Ministry of Commerce also requires provincial and municipal commerce departments to guide market management forces to strengthen inspections and handle illegal activities. At the same time, they should cooperate in promoting tobacco business and smoking control laws, and summarize and reward advancements in each stage.

Finally, the Vietnam Tobacco Corporation has also been instructed to collaborate with the Ministry of Industry to develop production and business plans, reduce domestic consumption, especially targeting vulnerable groups, collaborate on supporting tobacco farmers and industry workers, and promote digitization and technological applications throughout the production, distribution, and business chain.