Places where smoking is prohibited from August 1

The Ministry of Health has issued Circular No. 11/2023/TT-BYT regulating the implementation of smoking-free areas and the awarding of the Smoke-Free Environment Award. Circular No. 11/2023/TT-BYT of the Ministry of Health takes effect from August 1, 2023.

The Circular stipulates that places where smoking is completely prohibited indoors and within the premises include: Medical facilities;Educational facilities; Facilities for care, nurturing, entertainment and recreation exclusively for children; Facilities or areas with high risk of fire and explosion as prescribed in Appendix II of the List of facilities with fire and explosion hazards issued together with Decree No. 136/2020/ND-CP dated November 24, 2020 of the Government detailing a number of articles and measures to implement the Law on Fire Prevention and Fighting and the Law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Fire Prevention and Fighting.

In addition, the Circular also clearly stipulates places where smoking is completely prohibited indoors, including: Indoor workplaces of state administrative agencies, public service units, enterprises, political organizations , socio-political organizations, social organizations, socio-professional organizations and workplaces of other agencies, organizations and units, except for the locations specified in Clauses 2 and 5 of this Article.

Indoor areas of public places: food service establishments, entertainment service establishments, train stations, wharves, bus stations, religious and belief establishments, conference centers, shopping centers, markets, theaters, cultural houses, cinemas, circuses, clubs, sports halls, stadiums, community activity houses and common living areas of apartment buildings and other public places, except for the locations specified in Clauses 2 and 5 of this Article.

In addition, the Circular also clearly stipulates specific requirements for places where smoking is completely prohibited indoors, including at least placing signs in offices, halls, meeting rooms, security rooms, canteens, and dining rooms.

In case this location has an outdoor area or campus where smoking is permitted, the location where smoking is permitted must be far away from doors, exits, and windows to ensure that cigarette smoke does not affect these locations.

Public transport is completely smoke-free: Cars; Airplanes; Trains.

Places where indoor smoking is prohibited but designated areas for smokers are permitted include: Airport isolation areas; bars, karaoke bars, dance clubs; hotels, motels, guesthouses, resorts and other tourist accommodation establishments; public transport such as ships and trains.

General requirements for all non-smoking locations

Accordingly, smoking-free areas must have signs, letters or symbols with the content of smoking prohibition placed, printed or arranged. Agencies, organizations and individuals should refer to Form No. 1 and Form No. 2 in Appendix No. 1 issued with this Circular.

Signs must ensure requirements such as clear, easy-to-understand, concise message content; durable, fade-resistant sign material; outdoor signs must withstand the impact of the external environment; size and font size of the sign must be suitable for the location and space where the sign is placed; bold, easy-to-read letters; color of letters and symbols must contrast with the background color; signs placed in public places in conditions of insufficient light: have reflectors or sign lighting or other suitable forms to ensure visibility.

The placement of signs must ensure the following requirements: The distance between signs must be appropriate to the scale and space of each location; Place signs in easy-to-observe locations, areas with high traffic; entrance gates to campus areas, outdoor parking areas; for indoor areas, place signs at entrances, front halls, reception areas, waiting seats, stairwells, in elevators, covered corridors, garages, and restrooms.

No ashtrays, smoking utensils, cigarette butts and ashes in non-smoking areas.

Wisdom

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