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Solon pushes for picture-based warnings on cigarette packs


Hoping to "shock" smokers and help them stop the habit, a partylist lawmaker pushed for the use of picture-based warnings on the packages of tobacco products. In House Bill 3693, Ang Kasangga Rep. Teodorico Haresco pushed for the printing of graphic images on cigarette packages showing the devastating health effects of smoking. Haresco said smoking causes mouth, throat and respiratory diseases, including lung cancer, the most prevalent cause of cancer-related deaths among males. “Smoking kills not only the smokers but also those who inhale second-hand smoke," he said. Haresco cited a recent study by the Philippine Cancer Society study that “tobacco use is the single most significant lifestyle choice that has increased the incidence of lung cancer… affecting not only smokers but also people surrounding them." Based on a World Health Organization report, 27 percent of Filipino teenagers aged 13 to 15 smoke, reflecting an increase of 30 percent over the past two years. Written warning insufficient He said textual or written warnings are insufficient to convey the dangers of using tobacco products. Picture-based warnings, he said, are more effective in conveying the dangers of tobacco, both to smokers and non-smokers. People, especially the youth, would be less likely to smoke if they know the real dangers posed by smoking, Haresco said. The youth would also have a less tendency to smoke if tobacco products are stripped of the glamour associated with their packaging. Health and picture warnings Under the bill, the picture-based warning will be accompanied by a textual warning issued by the Department of Health. The warnings will be printed on at least 60 percent of the upper front and 60 percent of the upper back panel of the tobacco packaging. The bill also seeks to remove alleged misleading or deceptive information on tobacco packages that tend to encourage people to buy them. These descriptors include: ‘low tar,’ ‘light,’ ‘ultra light,’ or ‘mild.’" Penalties for violators Meanwhile, manufacturers who will not comply with the law will be penalized with:

  • a fine of P1 million on the first offense;
  • P5 million fine on the second offense, and
  • P20 million, or imprisonment of not more than one year, or both, along with the revocation of the offender’s business permits and licenses, on the third offense. If the guilty officer is a foreign national, he or she will be deported without the need for further deportation proceedings. That person will also be forever barred from re-entering the Philippines. Non-compliant tobacco packages All the batches of non-compliant tobacco packages will also be withdrawn from the manufacturing facility. A P100,000 penalty will be imposed for each day the violation continues after receiving a notification of infraction from the DOH. The retailers and resellers of non-compliant tobacco products will be fined with:
  • not more than P5,000 on the first offense;
  • P10,000 on the second offense; and
  • P20,000 or one-year imprisonment, or both, along with the revocation of permits and licenses, on the third offense. The bill states that the picture-based warnings shall be issued by the Health Secretary upon the recommendation of the Philippine Cancer Society (PCS) or other duly recognized non-government organizations. Tobacco manufacturers and importers will have no more than 20 months to comply if the bill is passed. – VVP, GMANews.TV
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