Although it is mandatory to mention the date of manufacture of the goods on packages as per the Consumer Rights Protection Act, the cigarette companies are not complying with the law. The cigarette companies are frequently violating the rule in Bangladesh.
However, the date of manufacture is seen inscribed on 61 per cent of packages of smokeless tobacco products like Jorda (tobacco leaf-let usually consumed raw with betel-leaf) and Gul (consumable tobacco leaf dust).
By not mentioning the date of production, the cigarette companies are reaping the opportunity of evading taxes. Even after the declaration of the freshly imposed taxes three months ago, two leading cigarette companies are selling their cigarettes at their previous prices. It is not being possible to detect whether the product has been manufactured freshly or made on a previous date as no date of manufacture is mentioned on the packages.
At the same time, in violation of the Tobacco Control Act, cigarette companies are also enjoying the opportunity of not to print an ‘Pictorial Health Warnings’ (Health Warnings with photos) on the packages.
Tobacco control activists and researchers revealed the above-mentioned statements at a function at the National Press Club in the capital on Thursday (October 26, 2023).
The Tobacco Control and Research Cell (TCRC) of Dhaka International University and Bangladesh Tamak Birodhi Jote (Bangladesh Anti-Tobacco Alliance-BATA) jointly organised the event on the publication of the result of research entitled ‘Implementation of Pictorial Health Warnings of Tobacco Products and Present Situation’.
Hossain Ali Khandaker, an additional secretary of the Ministry of Health and Family Planning and coordinator of National Tobacco Control Cell (NTCC); attended the event as the chief guest with Shagufta Sultana, project director of Aid Foundation; in the chair.
Advocate Syed Mahbubul Alam Tahin, technical consultant at international organisation Vital Strategies; Gaous Pearee Mukti, director at Work for a Better Bangladesh (WBB) Trust; and Moazzem Hossain Tipu, senior programme officer of Development Activities of Society (DAS); spoke on the occasion as the special guests.
Md Bazlur Rahman, member secretary of TCRC and an associate professor of Dhaka International University; moderated the event, while Farhana Zaman Liza, programme manager of the TCRC; presented the keynote paper of research.
Farhana Zaman Liza in her keynote paper said, among various procedures of tobacco control, the printing of ‘Pictorial Health Warning’ on the packages of tobacco products is mandatory. According to Section 10 of Smoking and Tobacco Products Usage (Control) (Amendment) Act, 2013 (Act No. 16 of 2013), covering 50 per cent of areas on the main exhibits of upper parts of both sides of the package of all tobacco products should contain a Pictorial Health Warning.
She informed that the Tobacco Control and Research Cell (TCRC) carried out a research by collecting 216 packages of tobacco products from eight divisional cities from May-2023 to October-2023 to uphold the present condition of the implementation of the printing of ‘Pictorial Health Warning’ on the packages of tobacco products.
Some salient features revealed through the TCRC research are- Pictorial Health Warnings were found on 87 per cent of the packages of tobacco products; no such warnings were printed on both sides of 79 per cent of packages; on 67 per cent of packages, Pictorial Health Warnings were printed covering 50 per cent spaces of the packages; on 57 of packages, no written Health Warnings were printed with the illustrated photos and on 57 per cent of packages the written Health Warnings were printed in white letters on the black background.
All the Pictorial Health Warnings on the packages of the Bidis were seen to be covered with Bandrolls and only on 35 per cent of packages, the message ‘Permitted to sell only in Bangladesh’ were seen to be printed; None of the cartoons of the cigarettes contain the Pictorial Health Warnings.
On the other hand, VAT registration numbers were found on 38 per cent of packages; 34 per cent of packages contain Trade License Numbers and 61 per cent of packages contain the Date of Production.
Speaking as the chief guest, Hossain Ali Khandaker mentioned that research is necessary to find out the problems and to resolve those. Research is also necessary to make any decision. The result of the research conducted by the TCRC will help the government to take further steps toward tobacco control.
He called upon the young generation of the country to come forward in such research. He also called upon all to come forward so that the young generation does not face health hazards.
In her presidential speech, Shagufta Sultana said that the Pictorial Health Warnings and issuance of licenses by the Local Government are important steps in tobacco control.
She also said that the research will play a positive role in tobacco control. She hopes it will be possible to make Bangladesh Tobacco Free by 2040 according to the declaration of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
In his speech, Syed Mahbubul Alam Tahin said that the cigarette companies are regularly violating the tobacco control law. Everyone should respect the law.
He called upon the people to file complaints with the bodies concerned of the government against any problems including tobacco control and the responsible bodies concerned will take steps accordingly. He also said that the government issincere about the Public Health and the Tobacco Control.
Gaous Pearee Mukti informed, Pictoral Health Warnings on packages of tobacco products are important devices for tobacco control and it is necessary to introduce a standard packaging system to implement these illustrated health warnings properly.
Moazzem Hossain Tipu said that the use of non-smoking tobacco has been mingled with the culture of Bangladesh. The Pictorial Health Warnings can play a vital role in decreasing its use. For this reason, it is necessary that the warnings of the packages should cover 90 per cent of space instead of 50 per cent, he added.
