Vietnam proposes new tobacco control laws and display bans

Vietnam's Ministry of Health is proposing significant amendments to the Law on Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harms. Key proposals include a ban on displaying tobacco products at points of sale and the formal inclusion of new products, such as e-cigarettes and heated tobacco, into the legal framework.

During a recent seminar in Hanoi, experts and officials discussed the need to refine legal definitions for electronic and heated tobacco products to ensure technical clarity and alignment with international standards. The goal is to create a robust legal basis for managing these products, which have posed new challenges to tobacco control efforts despite a decline in traditional cigarette smoking among adult males.

The proposed legislative changes aim to address the high health and economic burdens associated with tobacco use in Vietnam. Tobacco-related illnesses are estimated to cause over 100,000 deaths annually in the country, with economic costs reaching approximately 1.14% of GDP in 2022. If approved by the National Assembly, the new law is expected to take effect on July 1, 2027.