Lawmakers debate over cigarette draft law

(KPL – 18.11.09.03) A draft law on cigarettes was introduced to the 8th ordinary session of the National Assembly sixth legislature yesterday and drew a serious debate of lawmakers who were also not sure to approve it.

In the morning session, Mr. Ponemek Dalaloy, Minister of Public Health, presented the draft law to the parliamentarians and claimed that the law stipulated rules and regulations on the control, management, production inspection, import, distribution, advertisement and production of cigarettes.

The minister said that the law also indicated the raising awareness on harmfulness of cigarettes in order to promote people’s health and minimise their expenses on cigarettes, environment protection and contribute to the national protection and development.

Mr. Ousavanh Thiengthebvongsa, a member of the National Assembly for the Constituency Two, the northernmost province of Phongsaly, said that the law dissatisfied the lawmakers in the meeting, which recommended that the law should include stricter measures and be revised by adding more concise definition regarding regulations, for instance article 59 which had vague description on the education of law breakers.

KPL Lao News Agency