7th Session, 15th National Assembly: Protecting people's health from electronic cigarettes

On the morning of June 5, continuing the Session Program, under the chairmanship and direction of National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man , the National Assembly conducted a question and answer session on a group of issues in the field of Industry and Trade.

Answering questions from National Assembly deputies about the situation of electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products that have not been recognized in Vietnam but are being sold widely in the market, especially through the cyberspace environment, to an alarming extent, affecting the health of people, especially young people, Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien affirmed the Ministry's viewpoint that it is necessary to protect people's health.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade has proposed that the Government suspend the approval of the Decree on the management of new-generation tobacco products until the Ministry of Health officially assesses the harmful effects of this product. During the process of developing the Decree under the direction of the Government, the Ministry of Industry and Trade also received comments from the Ministry of Health and agreed to suspend the approval of the Decree; the Prime Minister has accepted.

National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man chairs the question-and-answer session. Photo: Doan Tan/VNA

"If the Ministry of Health affirms that new generation tobacco products are harmful to health to the point of being banned, the Ministry of Industry and Trade supports the need to soon amend relevant legal regulations so that these products cannot be circulated," the Minister emphasized.

The Minister added that, in fact, up to now, the Ministry of Industry and Trade has not granted a business license to any agent or website selling this product. At the same time, the Ministry has also directed the market management force to coordinate with local authorities to inspect, control and handle many cases, some of which have been transferred to competent authorities for handling according to the provisions of law.

Following the direction of the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Health will continue to summarize this issue and continue to make proposals on amending the law in the coming time.

Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien answers questions. Photo: Doan Tan/VNA

Previously, in the question and answer session on the afternoon of June 4, regarding the above content, Minister Nguyen Hong Dien said that tobacco trading is a conditional business and is regulated by the Law on Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harms and Decree No. 67/2013/ND-CP of the Government detailing a number of articles and measures to implement the Law on Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harms regarding tobacco trading. However, new generation tobacco products including e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products have not been specifically defined in the current law. The Minister said that this is a "legal gap" that needs to be filled.

According to the Minister, violations of traditional cigarettes or new generation cigarettes are mainly due to smuggling. Therefore, the authorities need to prevent them right at the border, because once they have entered the country, management will face many difficulties.

According to baotintuc.vn

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