New anti-tobacco law: No ifs and butts

Dubai : All cigarette packets imported into the country will now have to carry image and text warnings, a stringent anti-tobacco law issued on Wednesday has stipulated.

The Federal Law No 15 issued by President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan has banned all kinds of tobacco advertisements and promotions and has stipulated a jail term of a minimum of two years in addition to fines up to Dh1 million for those violating its provisions. It has also put a complete ban on cultivation of tobacco in the country.

Strict conditions

The law bans the import of tobacco and its by-products unless specific standard requirements accredited in the UAE are met, reported WAM. It said the law would spare non-smokers the effects of passive smoking.

Other features of the law include ban on smoking on public transport and all enclosed public buildings, in vehicles carrying children less than 12 years of age, places of worship and educational, health and sports facilities.

Moreover, licences will not be issued to cafés or other outlets serving tobacco or related products in residential buildings or quarters near them. However, authorities can be approached for a permit to have designated smoking areas in indoor places.

The law also prohibits selling of tobacco products to those below 18, bans cultivation of tobacco and import of tobacco-look-alike sweets, toys and other products.

Dr Mahmoud Fikri, Executive Director, Health Policies, under the Ministry of Health, told XPRESS that the law would regulate the implementation of the anti-tobacco campaign in the country in alignment with the World Health Organisation Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.

New Committee

Under the new law, however, a national anti-tobacco committee will be set up to implement its provisions and step up the campaign against tobacco throughout the nation, he added.

Dr Hanan Ali Mubarak Obaid, project leader of the Tobacco Free Dubai campaign of the Dubai Health Authority, said, "We will have to work as a multi-disciplinary team of health officials and other agencies like municipalities, police and the RTA to ensure its effective implementation."

Global trend

• In 2003, the EU introduced a law banning tobacco advertising in newspapers, radio and the Internet
• In 2006, British lawmakers voted to ban smoking in pubs, restaurants, factories and other indoor public spaces in England
• In June 2009, the US government passed a law requiring companies to place large, graphic health warnings on cigarette packets.