Brunei Joints Fight Against Smoking
By Asri Razak and Johnny Ong

Bandar Seri Begawan - Implementation of the Tobacco Act this year will see the reduction of `passive smoking' effects to the sultanate's non-smokers through restriction and control of tobacco consumption.

"We want them (smokers) to stop - and them to stop spreading smoke to other people - with the introduction of the Tobacco order 2005 which will definitely be implemented this year," the Minister of Health, Pehin Orang Kaya Indera Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Haji Suyoi Haji Osman told The Brunei Times yesterday at the launch of World No Tobacco Day that-took place at The Mall, Gadong.

In his opening speech, the minister revealed that there has me been increase-in the number of smoking-related cases in the sultanate from 30 cases in 2003 to 56 in 2005. These cases included cancer, stroke and diabetes, with the number one disease being lung cancer and bronchitis.

Enforcement of the Tobacco Order 2005, the minister added is aimed to protect the wellbeing of citizens and residents of the country from the negative effects of tobacco consumption adding that the order will include restrictions on advertisements related to smoking, the promotion, distribution, packaging and labelling of tobacco products as well as smoking in certain areas. The order will also regulate tobacco consumption in the country.

He further urged management of public venues to take more responsibility by putting up notices in their premises according to law.

He also cited World Health Organisation's estimation that tobacco use has led to the death of 650 million people, with hundreds of thousands of nonsmokers also dying from the effects of second-hand smoke.

The theme has chosen by WHO for this year's World No Tobacco Day is ‘100% Smoke Free Environment’.

Article 8 of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, recognises that exposure to tobacco smoke causes death, disease and disability, and asks countries to adopt and implement legislation that provides protection from second-hand smoke.

But unless more enforcement measures are taken, many continue to flaunt the anti-smoking rules.-- Courtesy of The Brunei Times

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