Singapore - Efforts to rid the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) of the dangers of smoking will fail unless tobacco control laws, including banning the advertising of products, are enforced with equal zeal throughout the region, anti-tobacco experts said on Thursday. The Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance (SEATCA) and the Singapore Health Promotion Board are holding two days of discussions in Singapore focusing on national and regional plans to further regulate tobacco advertising and promotion as part of a global treaty formalized by members of the World Health Organization.
The participants include international tobacco control advocates from Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Tonga, The Cook Islands and United States.
"It's time for all South-East Asian countries to pool our efforts, and go for the highest standards to enact measures that can reduce tobacco use," said Mary Assunta, SEATCA's policy development advisor, in a statement. "Unless we all effectively implement the global treaty that includes a ban on advertising and promotions, our people and children will remain vulnerable to the aggressive marketing tactics of big tobacco."
The treaty is the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). Article 13 requires signatory nations to enforce a ban on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship of events, within five years of ratification.
In ASEAN, only Indonesia has not signed on to the FCTC. The Philippines, Vietnam and Malaysia have passed enabling laws to comply with Article 13. Singapore and Thailand already have strong regulations banning advertising and tobacco promotion.
"The tobacco control laws of each country must be strong and comprehensive," said SEATCA Director Bungon Ritthiphakdee. "Any weakness will be exploited by the industry, and they will continue to spin new strategies to circumvent existing laws and regulations."
Loopholes in bans in any ASEAN country can be exploited by the tobacco industry to push smoking throughout the region, Ritthiphakdee warned.
A sporting event, concert or school activity in one country can be sponsored by a cigarette company, she said. "Because we now all see the same images on our newspapers, news websites, or cable television, the product placement in that one country will be seen by youngsters all over South-East Asia," she noted.
A WHO report on the Global Tobacco Epidemic 2008 found that tobacco use kills 5.4 million people a year. Near 20 per cent of these deaths occur in South-East Asia.
