10 July, 2009 - The National Council yesterday decided to lift the ban on the sale of tobacco and tobacco products while discussing the tobacco control bill.
The council, with a majority, agreed to delete the section C in chapter three of the bill, which says, “No person shall sell tobacco and tobacco products.” The council chairperson, Namgay Penjore, said that they discussed including a new clause to control the sale of tobacco and tobacco products through pricing.
Council members said that the ban on the sale was ineffective and led to a black market. Some said tobacco was easily available anywhere, but at exorbitant prices because of the ineffective ban.
“The idea is to make tobacco expensive by imposing higher taxes,” said the chairperson. The name of the bill is “Tobacco control bill” and not ‘… ban’. “The change (deleting the clause) was to do away with the thriving black market,” he said.
Meanwhile, the council also suggested inserting another clause restricting the sale of tobacco products to youth below 18 years. However, Namgay Penjore said the bill was still under discussion and not endorsed. The bill will be submitted to the National Assembly.
The sale of tobacco and tobacco products was banned in the country on December 17, 2004, following a resolution of the 87th session of the National Assembly.
By Ugyen Penjore
ugyenpen@kuensel.com.bt
