The companies producing tobacco products shall have to such messages and color pictures describing ´smoking and tobacco chewing as injurious to health´ in the space as per the instruction of the health ministry. [break]
The committee made the amendment to the "Bill on (control and regulation of) tobacco products. In the draft, the government had proposed allocating only 30 percent of the space for such messages and pictures. While Health Minister Uma Kant Chaudhary lobbied for reducing the space to 50 percent, the committee decided through a majority to fix it at 75 percent.
Any international company exporting tobacco products to Nepal shall have to follow the act.
Also, the committee added a provision against smoking inside one´s private house or vehicle causing adverse impact to any other person.
The bill has banned smoking in public places including state bodies, government offices, educational institutions, health institutions, airports, planes or public transportation vehicles, day care centers, children homes, elderly/orphan houses, clubs, public toilets, industries, factories, theaters, cinema hall, hotels, motels, restaurant, canteens, hostels, lodges and guest houses.
Likewise, the bill has proposed stadiums, covered halls, swimming pools, departmental stores and religious places as no-smoking zones. The Supreme Court, a couple of years ago, had issued a ruling instructing the government to ban smoking in public places.
Blanket ban on publicity
The bill has proposed blanket ban on all types of advertisements and publicity campaign of tobacco products in any media and gatherings. The bill has also banned any company making publicity while sponsoring any program.
At present, advertisement and other forms of publicity of tobacco products is banned in electronic media only while it is allowed in print media.
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