Tobacco Law being enforced
The Ministry of Health from now on will be working hard to enforce the new Tobacco Products Control Act.
The object of the Act is to protect the health of people from the diseases caused by tobacco use, promote the accurate portrayal of the health and social consequences of tobacco use and protect the health of the young people by restricting access to tobacco.
“The Act is also in place to protect individuals from the hazards of involuntary exposure to tobacco.” Maina Mataio, from the Ministry of Health told the Herald.
The Act also restrictions the sale of certain tobacco products to small quantities – no person in the course of retail trade may either sell or offer for sale, loose cigarettes or loose tobacco. “We have heard rumours that some shops around the island are selling cigarettes loose, though we have never seen it. Though we have seen children under 18 years selling tobacco to customers which is against the law .No person under 18 years shall offer to sell,” said Mataio
“We have been around to many of the stores selling tobacco products; to pre warn them about the laws on selling tobacco. We will not be doing so again, if they fail to comply with the laws and are caught, they will be fined,” said Maina Mataio.
The Ministry of Health will be appointing Health Inspectors to enforce the law. Inspector s will be given the right to enter a public place, and fine or pre warn anyone who is smoking in a smoke free zone. “We suggested to the workers within the Ministry of Health who smoke, to only smoke behind and away from the building. The smoke free zone is in the building and surrounding the building under roof tops, an allowed area would be away from the building in the open air so that involuntary people will not have to inhale it also,” said Mataio
Any person who threatens, assaults or intentionally obstructs or hinders an Inspector who is acting in the exercise or performance of powers may be fined and in the case of a body corporate, to a fine not exceeding $2,000, and in the case of an individual, to a fine not exceeding $1,000.
If workers are found smoking outside a public business premise they will be fined in the case of a body corporate, to a fine not exceeding $10,000 and in the case of an individual to a fine not exceeding $1,000.
Maina say’s that the Ministry of Health will be giving warning posters away to any business who wants them. The first poster is free, but the business will have to print their own if they want more, as the Ministry does not have the funds to provide more than the first copy. -Tiare Ponini

Herald Issue 608 21 March
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