DUSHANBE, July 8, 2011, Asia-Plus  -- The new WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic that was released on July 7 reveals that only 13 out of 53 countries in the WHO European Region, most of them in the European Union, require cigarette packets to carry pictorial warnings about the dangers of smoking, and most of these graphic images cover less than half of the package.  Of the remaining 40 countries, 27 stipulate that packets carry warnings of various kinds, but graphic images are not yet required, and the others call for weaker warnings.  No country in the Region uses large and clear health warnings, on the front and back of packets that highlight specific illnesses, as agreed in the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).

According to the report, the tobacco industry specifically targets girls and young women through appealing pack designs. Countries increasingly restrict and ban conventional tobacco advertising: over 81% of those in the European Region ban advertising, promotion and sponsorship.  The tobacco industry circumvents these bans by investing heavily in less traditional forms of promotion, such as using the packet itself as advertising.

The new WHO report offers a powerful tool to show not only where interventions have succeeded and illustrate good practice but also where more progress is needed. In the WHO European Region, Turkey has drawn attention for increasing free radio and television time for anti-tobacco advertising, as has the Russian Federation for using hard-hitting anti-tobacco advertising as a catalyst for change.

The evidence shows that effective health warnings, especially those that include pictures, motivate users to quit and reduce the appeal of tobacco to people who are not yet addicted.  Yet only close to 39% of the population in the WHO European Region lives in countries that require such warnings on tobacco packaging.

Tobacco is the single most preventable cause of death in the world. This year, it will kill nearly 6 million people: more than tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and malaria combined.

Other key findings from the report include: 23% of the population in the Region (207 448 988 people) is protected by comprehensive national legislation banning smoking in public places; 19% of countries still allow smoking in hospitals and schools; and 62% of countries offer national toll-free quitlines, although 1 does not offer any support to quit tobacco use.

We will recall that Tajikistan has tightened tobacco control regulations and new requirements of technical regulations took effect beginning on July 1.  Cigarette packs now must contain four additional awesome inscriptions on the dangers of smoking.

Under the new technical regulations, the front side of cigarette packs must contain the main cautionary warning – “Smoking is injurious to your health.”  The back side must contain four of the following health warnings: “Smoking causes heart attacks and strokes,” “Smoking during pregnancy harms your baby,” “Smoking is highly addictive, do not start smoking,” “Protect children against tobacco smoke,” “Smoking kills,” “Smoking causes emphysema,” “Smoking can cause a sow and painful death,” Smoking cause vessel diseases,” and “Smoking can cause parodontosis and dedentition.”

In Tajikistan, the tobacco-controlled legislation – The Law on Limited Use of Tobacco – came into effect on January 1, 2011.  Under this law, sale of tobacco and smoking in schools, hospitals, organizations and enterprises irrespective of forms of their property, airports, train stations, recreation areas, sports and culture facilities and in public transport is banned.  Additionally, sale of tobacco closer than 100 meters to kindergartens, schools, hospitals and other educational and healthcare institutions is banned.  The law also bans sale of tobacco to and by teenagers.

In late July 2010, President Emomali Rahmon suggested to limit sale and use tobacco goods in all governmental and non-governmental institutions.  Smokers now have to use special places.

Those who break the law will have to pay a fine from 5 to 15 indexes (where one index makes 35 somoni) for natural persons and from 3 to 300 indexes for legal entities.