Tuesday, June 15, 2010

It?s official ? small pack ban effective June 2

KUALA LUMPUR: The Health Ministry issued an official directive to tobacco companies on Monday, June 14 confirming the ban of cigarette packs containing fewer than 20 sticks with effect from June 2.

It said this was in line with the cabinet's decision on June 2 that revoked the ministry's earlier deferment of the ban until Dec 31, 2010.

"The ban of cigarettes in packets of less than 20 sticks is in accordance with the Tobacco Control Act 2004 which had been gazetted on Sept 23, 2004," the health ministry said in a statement on Monday.

The government had originally planned to ban the small packs on June 23, 2005, but that was deferred to June 1, 2006. It decided to defer it again to June 1, 2010. Four days before the ban was supposed to take effect, the health ministry decided to defer it to Jan 1, 2011 pending a study.

Subsequently, the cabinet order the ministry to revert to the June 1, 2010 deadline, and the tobacco companies had since been waiting for the official notification from the ministry.


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