Abu Dhabi/Dubai: New rules on cigarette content and regulations on the size of health warnings on packets have been announced in a government clampdown.
The Emirates Authority for Standardisation and Metrology (ESMA) rules state that the front of every packet must carry a warning in black in large lettering in Arabic and English.
Also, each cigarette must not contain more than 0.6 mg of nicotine and 10mg of tar, and must not produce over 12mg of carbon monoxide.
The new regulations come into effect from September 29 and breaches will be punished with a prison sentence, a fine of at least Dh30,000 or both.
Moamar Mustafa, director of ESMA's Dubai Conformity Assessment Department, said the words: "Health Warning: Smoking is the main cause of lung cancer, lung diseases and of heart and arteries diseases," must be readable whatever the packet's colour.
He added: "The new regulations have been formed because the authorities found excess hazardous elements in a number of cigarette brands. Manufacturers claim they keep the hazardous elements within the permitted limit, but they fail to control at least one element."
He said in tests more than half a dozen brands made in the UAE, United Kingdom, Egypt, Germany, India and Bangladesh breached rules.
ESMA, the Ministry of Economy, municipalities and Customs are responsible for enforcing the new rules, while the Ministry of Health has given its support.
"The anti-smoking campaign in the country has gained momentum as many people approach anti-smoking clinics established by the ministry in all the emirates," said Hala Haider, the Ministry of Health's Assistant Director for Technical Affairs for Health Education.
Campaign
Ayman Al Saleh, a spokesman for British American Tobacco, said the company planned to study in detail the new regulations, which are based on a federal law announced in March.
He added: "All our products sold in the UAE are in line with the specifications of the country, both in terms of the health warnings on the packets and the nicotine or tar contents."
Yesterday's announcement from ESMA comes as Dubai prepares to extend a ban on smoking in government buildings and some public places to include internet cafés, shopping malls, cinemas and other areas.
'I can hardly read the note on packets now'
Smokers and ex-smokers have given a mixed reaction to the news that cigarette packets will have to carry prominent health warnings.
Syrian Ma'n Abul Husn, who gave up smoking five years ago at 43, said: "I don't think the health warnings are effective at all. The last thing I looked at was the warning." Husn said prominent anti-smoking billboards and cinema or television advertisements might have a bigger impact.
Rawa Salem, also from Syria and a current smoker, said now she "could hardly read" the warning on some cigarette packets.
"In Switzerland they have warnings that are so big you cannot help but notice them. My son held up the packet and said: 'You're killing yourself.' It was more powerful," she said.
Derek Macdonald, a Scot who works in publishing, said: "I think it's a good idea, but I don't know if it will make much of a difference to smokers."
