UAE | Health

All tobacco products to be tested for content

Tobacco products in the UAE and other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries have to undergo content tests before they can go on sale, as part of the new requirements on tobacco in the region, Gulf News has learnt.

  • By Nina Muslim, Staff Reporter
  • Published: 23:15 May 21, 2009
  • Gulf News

  • New tobacco regulations require products to go for testing to check the content matches the labelling. Picture is for illustrative purposes only.
  • Image Credit: Hadrian Hernandez/Gulf News

Dubai: Tobacco products in the UAE and other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries have to undergo content tests before they can go on sale, as part of the new requirements on tobacco in the region, Gulf News has learnt.

Dr Wedad Al Maidoor, head of the National Tobacco Control Committee, told Gulf News the executive office of GCC ministers would soon require testing of tobacco products to ensure the declaration of ingredients, such as tar and nicotine, was correct.

"A laboratory in Jordan will take samples and test them before they can go on sale. We have to make sure that the content labelling is correct," she said.

She said the new requirement would apply to all types of tobacco, including cigarettes, sheesha tobacco and loose tobacco for the midwakh, and all current and new brands of tobacco products.

Under the rule, tobacco products that claim to contain less than 10mg of tar, for example, will be tested to ensure they contained the appropriate amount. The rule could become effective by the end of the year.

Other requirements include putting warning photos on tobacco packs, such as blackened lungs, rotting teeth and brain haemorrhage - all risks associated with smoking - along with the health warning text.

Gulf News reported in March that the UAE Ministry of Health expected the graphic warnings to be on tobacco packs in September.

"The pictures will have to take up 50 per cent of the front and back of the tobacco pack," Dr Wedad said.

She said health officials in Abu Dhabi were studying whether pictures on tobacco packs would influence people's attitudes regarding tobacco. A focus group are shown tobacco packs with the warning pictures on them and then quizzed on their reaction.

"We want to see if the pictures will help them to decide, whether to avoid or stop smoking," she added.

Would you advocate stricter regulations on the sale of tobacco products? Do you think the impact smoking has on health is not given enough importance? How can people be made more aware?


Your comments


This is a good idea. The only thing I?m questioning is the picture of blackened lungs. It is known fact that blackened lungs are common for coal mine workers not smokers, though certain medical workers are trying to link tobacco with blackened lungs.
Peter
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: May 22, 2009, 15:39

yes, government must ban tobacco
Sheeba
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: May 22, 2009, 15:20

In spite to this that I am an old and regular smoker I really appreciate this step of National Tobacco Council Community. They should enhance more and more disadvantages of smoking in all cigarette packs. I and the new generation will always be thankful to the officials.
Mohammad Shoaib
Karachi,Pakistan
Posted: May 22, 2009, 14:56

Everyone knows smoking is harmful. But then too people keep smoking. Why? Do they want to kill themselves soon? The government should ban cigarettes.
Rahul Jones
Dubai,UAE
Posted: May 22, 2009, 13:39

We seem to be talking in circles .It is true that these strategies have been tried before. It is equably true that an additive in the tobacco keeps users hooked to tap into their pockets. But the end is the same, someone makes a huge profit. Images related to cancer or posters will never help.
George O. Adongo
Dubai,UAE
Posted: May 22, 2009, 12:15

I am a non-smoker but I fully advocate warnings to be on every packet with injurious pictorial signs. The decision lies with the smoker anyway. It?s like every other health warning.
Syed Shoostry
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: May 22, 2009, 11:36

I thing the authorities should completely stop the tobacco products including cigarettes.
Yousuf
dubai,uae
Posted: May 22, 2009, 11:32

Good thinking about this photo on pack. But tobacco sells only in the supermarket and department store. In restaurant and cafeterias I notice always sign that there is no smoking, but they are still selling there. Because cafeteria is for food, then how they can sell tobacco?
Sonaria Jakishan
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: May 22, 2009, 10:38

You need a much more hard hitting campaign against smoking and if the price was higher you would deter many more smokers including the teenagers. The price of cigarettes in this country is minimal.
Natalie van Cleve
Dubai,UAE
Posted: May 22, 2009, 07:32

I suggest that in every pack of cigarettes or loose tobacco there should be a small plastic made sculpture indicating the effects of tobacco. For example, good Lungs and lungs after the use of tobacco and things like that.
Obaid Seddiqi
Peshawar,Pakistan
Posted: May 22, 2009, 06:54

Tobacco MUST be banned. Plain and Simple!
Maher
Dubai,UAE
Posted: May 22, 2009, 05:16

  • Rate this article
  • Average reader rating (0 votes) 0 Stars
Tools

Emailing an article to friend is a simple way to share a news item. Your friend will receive an email with your name and email address as well any personal message you choose to send.

The information you provide on this page will not be used to send unsolicited emails.

This service is not intended to encourage spam, and action may be taken against individuals who maliciously enter personal details of another individual.

Share this article

More from UAE Health

  1. Tache the way to highlight causes

  2. Gulf states face critical situation in tackling rising health problems

  3. New portal to aid emergencies promptly

  4. UAE launches campaign to tackle diabetes pandemic

All articles in Health

More from UAE

Gulf News
Popular in UAE
Readers' pictures
Your pictures

Readers' pictures

The best reader pictures from around the UAE this week

Latest news
Community Reports

More from Community Reports

Weather

More from Weather