Countries that signed and ratified the treaty were bound to implement tobacco control measures, like the ban on smoking in public places and the ban on promotion and advertisement of tobacco products.
Some countries have also implemented the graphic health warning on cigarette packs and imposed higher sin taxes for tobacco products.
Ubial said they expect the prevalence rate of smoking in the Philippines to go down further when the sin taxes and graphic health warnings are fully implemented.
“Globally, what reversed the trend is really the sin tax. If you reduce the buying power of the people, if you increase the prices of cigarettes, they will at least smoke less – if they will not stop smoking,†she added.
Ubial lamented the cigarettes sold in the Philippines are among of the cheapest in the world.
“At present, the tax on cigarettes is still 30 to 40 percent. When we reach the tax of 75 percent of the price of cigarettes, we expect to see a big decline in the trend,†she added.
The DOH is also looking forward to the full implementation of graphic health warning, which pertains to the printing of pictures showing the ill effects of smoking on health.
Under the law, there is a transition period during which tobacco manufacturers would be required to have picture warnings on cigarette packs.
Linkback:
https://tubagbohol.mikeligalig.com/index.php?topic=80426.0