Brunei's Local News - Brudirect.com

Survey Shows Cigarette-Selling Shops Comply With Regulations
By Azlan Othman

Bandar Seri Begawan - Most of the shops selling cigarettes have complied with regulations set by the Ministry of Health, including having pictorial warning labels on cigarette packets, putting up a prohibition notice against selling the products to those under 18, and displaying the level of tar and nicotine contents on the cigarette packets.

A random survey by the Bulletin at shops around Jalan Muara and Gadong showed that cigarette suppliers and shops adhered to the Tobacco Regulations (Labelling) 2007, which came into force on December 1.

Sales supervisor Nedunchechiyan of Usaha Tasbih, Gadong said such label has been put in place for two weeks now, while Umar Ali, an operator of a separate convenience store in Gadong, said the cigarettes have been labelled for over a month now.

Tobacco importers were given a seven-month grace period, starting April 20, to print new product boxes.

But Nedunchechiyan said cigarette selling business is not as good as before, with profit dropping to as low as only $6 a day.

"We used to make $400 to $500 a month, but now, it has plummeted to about $80 to $90 a day," he said, adding that he still had last month's stock to clear.

He also noted that "convenience store business has not been as good as before due to stiff competition". On the issue of selling cigarettes to minors, "we do ask them to show their identity cards to prove they are eligible to buy cigarettes. If the person has not reached 18, we will not sell".

It is an offence to sell tobacco products to those below 18. Similarly, it is an offence for those under 18 to buy tobacco products.

Retailers selling to those under 18 are liable to a fine of $5,000, and the minor purchasing the product can be fined $10,000 or face a six-month jail term. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin