[Intl-tobacco] Vietnam bans tobacco advertising

[robert weissman]

Thanh Nien News
08 July, 2005

Vietnam bans tobacco advertising


Vietnam is strictly prohibiting tobacco advertising in all forms,
including the display of trademarks and logos of tobacco products and
sponsorship of public activities.

The Ministry of Culture and Information on Thursday made public a
circular which guides the implementation of the Ordinance on Advertising
and the Government Resolution on Prohibition of Tobacco Advertising at a
news conference in Hanoi.

The circular stipulates that any act of showing the name, trademark or
logo of a tobacco product in advertisement is deemed to be tobacco
advertising and is prohibited.

This extends to showing, in an advertisement, any part of the name,
trademark or logo of a tobacco product which is sufficient for people to
realize that such product is tobacco.

The circular also bans advertising information of a contest or sales
promotion relating to tobacco products; and organizing cultural, art,
sports, entertainment or any other social activities funded by tobacco
companies where trademarks or logos are displayed.

It also does not allow the dissemination or display of tobacco sales
information on billboards of more than 0.5 square meters.

Tobacco stands are not allowed to have more than one carton (200 pieces)
of each tobacco label and more than one advertising board on display.

According to a 2004 survey, the rate of male smokers in Vietnam was 59
per cent and female smokers 3 per cent.

It is estimated that 10 per cent of the present population (about 8
million) will die prematurely due to tobacco-related diseases.

(Source: Vietnam News Agency)

Story from Thanh Nien News
Published: 08 July, 2005, 14:03:09 (GMT+7)
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