Official sees more delays for anti-tobacco laws

Dubai: UAE tobacco laws are unlikely to be passed this year, two years after the initial intended deadline.

The Ministry of Health at first expected the country to have its first comprehensive tobacco-control laws by the end of 2006, in keeping with the UAE's commitment to the World Health Organisation (WHO) Framework Convention of Tobacco Control (FCTC).

Federal National Council debates on the proposed legislation were slated for November 11 this year, but got delayed due to the summer holidays and Ramadan. Dr Wedad Al Maidoor, head of the National Tobacco Control Committee, told Gulf News the debate has now been delayed till further notice. "In November, they promised to discuss the law, but it did not happen because other issues came in the middle of (November) - the financial crisis," she said.

"We hope they will be able to discuss by the end of December, because we are waiting for that," she added.

However, chances that the debates will be held by the end of the month are slim as the UAE public sector enjoys a 10-day holiday to celebrate National Day and Eid Al Adha. The delay makes passing the law unlikely until next year as the next step is to submit it to the Cabinet for discussion before ratification by the UAE President.

Smoking in cars

Dr Wedad hoped the law would come out before March next year. "The FCTC meeting is in March, so we hope to show something (by then)," she said.

The tobacco-control law is expected to unify tobacco-control policies in the UAE. Abu Dhabi, Dubai and the northern emirates currently have different policies limiting tobacco use. Implementation of the laws, once they pass, will not occur immediately as the Ministry of Health will have to interpret the articles contained within the piece of legislation, especially those that overlap.

One issue Dr Wedad said would be contentious would be whether smoking should be allowed in cars while children are inside.

Although cars are considered a private place, the draft law also addresses protection of minors against second-hand smoke.

"The car is an enclosed area, but we think we can do something about it because other cities in the world have applied and it has worked," she said.

Do you smoke while driving with children? Would you welcome this move? Why? When in traffic, do motorists who smoke bother you? Fill in the form bellow to send your comments.

I would rather marry a smoker and not have any children. I would rather not allow a non-smoker in my car or even close to it than give up my cigarettes. I do not think anyone has the right to interfere in someone's privacy.
Val
Dubai,UAE
Posted: December 10, 2008, 13:29

If the UAE can ban the import of tobacco products in the first place then there would be no need to worry about smoking. No tobacco, no worries.
Amit H.
Dubai,UAE
Posted: December 10, 2008, 11:06

Smoking while driving is a distraction for the driver and also risks causing a fire or accident. I support the ban on smoking in cars.
Saqib Iqbal
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: December 10, 2008, 10:25

Smoking should be prohibited while driving if the children are in the car with them.
Azhar Malik
Dubai,United Aarab Emirates
Posted: December 10, 2008, 09:13

I believe a car is someone's private property and therefore the authorities should not implement rules regarding that. If the authorities are really keen on banning smoking this much then why don't they ban cigarettes from grocery shops and supermarkets in the first place? I think it is because selling cigarettes are a good source of income for shops.
Khurram Shehzad
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: December 10, 2008, 08:57

What does the financial crisis have to do with anti-tobacco laws? To blame the postponement of the said meetings on unrelated issues is a blatant procrastination.
Anthony J. Permal
Dubai,UAE
Posted: December 10, 2008, 08:53