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Stringent Quality Control Codes on Tobacco Products

DUBAI - Stepping up its vigil on tobacco products, the country has implemented stringent quality control codes on the main harmful elements in cigarettes.

Under the new regulations, levels of nicotine, tar and carbon monoxide in each cigarette brand available in the UAE cannot exceed the maximum set of international standards.

Health officials say that though there are no ‘safe levels’ of these harmful elements in cigarettes, the move will curb smuggling which is also among the key points covered in the upcoming National Anti-Tobacco Law.

The latest decision taken by the Emirates Standardisation and Metrology Authority has gradually been communicated to the manufacturers and importers so as not to create a panic, said Mohamed Badri, acting director general of the authority.

“According to the Ministry of Economy’s findings, there are several substandard cigarette products in the country which need to be regulated,” he said. Traders have already been asked to bring samples of their products to the authority, which are then sent to a laboratory in Jordan for testing and finally certified locally.

“They are afraid of regulations but we have agreed upon transparency and have held a number of meetings with them to explain the new procedures that they will be required to follow,” he said.

According to a Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry report, the annual consumption of cigarettes in the UAE was estimated to be around 6 billion sticks in volume worth $309 million.

“We don’t have good or bad cigarettes but when we apply standards, we may be making it slightly safer for the public,” said Dr Wedad Al Maidoor, head of the National Tobacco Control Committee at the Ministry of Health.

She, however, feels that the regulations would help put an end to smuggling of substandard products. “From a health point of view, it is not recommended to have a low or high tar cigarettes - all are bad,” she said. “But these regulations will mean tougher checks in the market, and lesser availability of harmful products,” she added.

Low grade cigarettes are mainly 
sold in local groceries and supermarkets, especially in areas inhabited by blue 
collar workers and labourers. This class of consumers is usually unaware of 
the nature of these cigarettes and is misled into their purchase by attractive 
prices, according to the DCCI
 report.

Besides these stringent checks, the authorities are also a step closer to implementing the GCC-wide pictorial warnings on tobacco products. “By next month we will finalise what kind and how long the pictorial warning will stay on the cigarette pack,” said Eng Badri. Pictures will replace the existing written warnings since they have a greater impact, he said.

According to Dr Al Maidoor, the GCC Specification Authority was using delaying tactics to give its nod to the picture warnings. “This decision has already been taken and as per the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, tobacco products should have been clearly packaged by February of this year,” she said.

“Once it’s packaged such, the consumers can either take it or leave it,” she added.

asmaalizain@khaleejtimes.com