NEPAL GOVERNMENT BANNED SMOKING IN PUBLIC PLACES

NEPAL GOVERNMENT BANNED SMOKING IN PUBLIC PLACES

With the Tobacco Control and Regulatory Act-2010 coming into effect, ban on smoking in public places will be enforced from tomorrow, 8^th August 2011.

Those smoking in public places will be fined up to Rs 100 and civil servants will be liable to departmental action.

Government offices, corporation, educational institutions, libraries, airports, public vehicles, orphanages, child-care centers, cinema halls, homes for the elderly, cultural centers, children’s gardens, hotels, restaurants, resorts, girls’ and boys’ hostels, department stores, religious sites and industries have been designated no smoking zones.

Health Secretary Sudha Sharma said mass awareness campaign highlighting, punishment will be carried out. She also said an inter-ministerial coordinating committee has been formed to enforce the law to ensure people’s right to health. Pasting no smoking notices at every public place will be mandatory.

The ban covers of tobacco products and single sticks within a 100 meter radius of educational and health institutions, children’s homes, child care centers and home for elders.

Anyone selling tobacco products to persons under age of 18 years and pregnant women will be fined up to Rs 10,000.The act also prohibits advertising and sponsoring programmes in the name of tobacco-related products through media. Offenders will be fined up to Rs 100,000.

The government mass awareness campaign will cover entire country ensure effective implementation of the Act. On the collection of fines, Sharma said, “we are yet to develop a mechanism.”

It has become mandatory for producers to cover 75 percent of the packet of tobacco products with statutory warning from November 4. Offenders will be fined up to Rs 50,000.

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