[Intl-tobacco] Malaysia: Tobacco ads and sponsorship to go by end of January

[robert weissman]

Tobacco ads and sponsorship to go by end of January
The Straits-Times/The Star/AsiaNews Network

October 16, 2004

Malaysia will start enforcing regulations banning such ads in February;
cigarettes must also be sold in packs of at least 20

KUALA LUMPUR - The end of January next year is the deadline for coffee
shop owners and companies in Malaysia to remove cigarette advertisements
from their premises and billboards.

They must also stop selling small packs or loose cigarettes because of
the anti-smoking drive by the government, which is working together with
grassroots and other groups.

Health Minister Chua Soi Lek said companies and individual traders
appealed to his ministry to have one year to clear their shelves and
take down the advertisements.

'They requested time to take down the ads and replace them,' he said.
'That is only fair, but we will only allow them a few months to do so.

'This means that from February, enforcement will start,' he told
reporters earlier this week after launching the Malaysian Council for
Tobacco Control (MCTC).

The appeals to the Health Ministry were made after the Control of
Tobacco Product Regulations 2004 was gazetted last month. Under the
regulations, ads of tobacco products and sponsorships by their companies
were banned.

Cigarettes must also be sold in packs containing at least 20 sticks.
Errant traders and companies can be fined not more than RM10,000
($4,400) or jailed for up two years.

To beef up enforcement units, public health officers from local councils
will be empowered to enforce the new regulations. The ministry will also
recruit more officers.

Asked whether indirect advertising would be allowed, Datuk Chua said
that any ad with the name of a cigarette company would be banned.

He said other ministries would help enforce the regulations on
television networks, which do not fall under his jurisdiction.

He said the MCTC would work with the Health Ministry to formulate
anti-smoking policies and run public awareness programmes on the dangers
involved in the habit.

The council, comprising representatives of 28 non-governmental groups
and public universities, will work with other professional bodies to
coordinate anti-smoking efforts.

Dr Chua also expressed his concern about the need for professionals to
help fight the increase of unregistered drugs being sold on the Internet.

He urged the public not to be 'influenced' by false claims about these
products.

He said products sold online were dangerous as they were not tested for
safety, quality and effectiveness. -- The Star/AsiaNews Network