Health Warnings on Cigarette Packs in Vietnam Remain at the Same Rate for 13 Years
The 50% health warning rate on cigarette packs in Vietnam has not been changed for the past 13 years, and experts are calling for an increase in this rate and a renewal of the designs.
While the health warning area on cigarette packs in Vietnam has remained fixed at 50% for the past 13 years, experts and official committees emphasize that this rate should be increased to at least 85% and that regulations must be updated urgently.
Legal Regulations and Historical Process
According to the 2012 Law on Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harms, health warnings must cover at least 50% of the front and back of packs and be changed every two years. However, since the law came into effect on May 1, 2013, this rate has never been changed.
International Comparisons and Rankings
Health warnings on tobacco packaging are mandatory in 140 countries and territories worldwide. With its 50% rate, Vietnam ranks 95th among these countries and is among the nations with the lowest warning area in the Southeast Asia region.
In contrast, Thailand implements a 85% health warning area, Brunei, Laos, Myanmar, and Singapore 75%, and Timor-Leste an average of 92.5%.
Warnings from Experts and Institutions
Dr. Nguyen Huy Quang, Chairman of the Advisory, Review, and Social Assessment Council of the Vietnam Medical Association, stated that pictorial warnings are an important method that directly affects users, but failing to update them for a long time reduces their effectiveness.
According to a 2019 study by the School of Public Health, the effectiveness of the current templates has significantly diminished.
Proposed Steps for the Future
The National Assembly's Committee on Culture and Social Affairs has recommended adding specific regulations to the draft law, increasing the health warning area to at least 85%, or creating a roadmap for its gradual increase.
Nguyen Dac Vinh, Chairman of the Committee on Culture and Social Affairs, and Dr. Nguyen Huy Quang state that along with increasing the rates, updating the visuals and message delivery methods is of critical importance for public health.