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Bhutan
Country Information
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Bhutan Information |
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Bhutan Information |
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December 17, 2004
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In
keeping with the decision of the Bhutanese parliament, the nationwide ban
on the sale of tobacco products was implemented from today making Bhutan
the first country in the world to do so.
Initiated
by the Health Ministry, the decision on the ban was taken by the 82nd session
of the National Assembly on August 12, along with the ratification of the
WHO convention on the Tobacco control. The ban, Assembly members pitched,
was the wishes of the people.
Tobacco
was already banned in 18 of Bhutan's 20 districts. A ban on the sale of
all tobacco products has come into effect in Bhutan. All smoking in public
places has also been banned.
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People,
however, can import cigarettes for personal consumption but subject to
certain restrictions.
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tobacco ban will not apply to foreign tourists, diplomats or those working
for NGOs. People who cannot kick the habit can import tobacco for personal
use, but at a 100 percent tax. They can only smoke indoors in the privacy
of their homes. |
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People,
however, can import cigarettes for personal consumption but subject to
certain restrictions.
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to the Revenue and Customs, the maximum amount of cigarettes that can be
imported for personal consumption is 200 pieces. For other tobacco products
like snuff and chewing tobacco, the maximum import amount is 50 grams.
For pipe tobacco, it is three tins of 50 grams each. |
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The
sale of tobacco products in the country's only duty free shops in Thimphu
and Paro Airport was banned from January 2003.
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| Cigarettes
imported from India will be levied a 100 percent sales tax on the cost
price whereas imports from third countries will be levied a 100 percent
sales tax plus a 100 percent customs duty. Prior to the ban, cigarettes
were levied a 50 percent sales tax. |
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The
tax is less on the import from India because of the free trade agreement
that Bhutan shares with the country, said custom officials adding that
cigarette was the most sold tobacco product in Bhutan.
The
revenue and customs has also stopped, from December 17, the duty free quota
of one cigarette carton of third country brand for all Drukair passengers.
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The
ministry officials warned that it would impose Nu. 10,000 ($210) on the
ban violators and owners of shops and hotels engaged in tobacco sales would
lose their business licenses.
If
any foreigner is caught selling tobacco products to Bhutanese nationals,
he will be charged with smuggling |
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But
people are skeptic that the ban would lead to a black market. In 18 of
the 20 districts where an existing tobacco sales ban is in force, tobacco
is discreetly available at inflated prices.
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| Stricter
rules are also being proposed to snuff out the smoke. The Health Ministry
during the first coordination meeting of stakeholders on tobacco control
on December 15, proposed banning smoking in several public places including
recreational outlets like bars, discotheques, restaurants and snooker rooms.
Smoke
free places are also being proposed for sports centres like archery grounds,
public institutions, commercial outlets and bus stands. The meeting also
discussed the need of having an "enabling legislation" to help implement
the ban. |
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To
make the ban effective, the Health Ministry has indicated that the issue
of the sale of cigarettes from DANTAK and IMTRAT canteens around the country
will be taken up with the government soon. People have criticised that
the ban on sale of tobacco would be toothless as long as the DANTAK and
IMTRAT canteens were allowed to sell cigarettes to the Bhutanese.
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| Contributed by KUENSEL, Bhutan's National Newspaper, 2004 |
| Information on Bhutan |
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