The Department of Legal Affairs under the Vietnamese Ministry of Health has proposed supplementing administrative fines against those storing and using e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products.

The department held a workshop in Hanoi on Wednesday to provide information about a plan to implement the law-making National Assembly's resolution involving the ban of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products.

The legislature in late November passed a resolution on prohibiting the production, trade, import, storage, transportation, and use of e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products, and addictive or harmful substances affecting human health starting next year, making Vietnam the sixth country in Southeast Asia to completely bar e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products.

A representative of the Department of Legal Affairs shared that Vietnam has had administrative and criminal sanctions against the production, storage, and transport of banned goods.

In particular, those involved in producing and trading barred goods shall be subject to a fine of VND100 million (US$3,930) to VND1 billion ($39,300) or a jail term of one to five years each, pursuant to Article 190 of the Penal Code.

Article 191 of the Penal Code regulates that those who store and transport banned goods shall be fined VND50-300 million ($1,964-11,792) or be sentenced to six months to three years behind bars each.

However, there are no regulations and penalties for users of banned goods, including e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products.

The Ministry of Health has proposed building a decree amending and supplementing the national government’s Decree 117 on the handling of administrative violations in the healthcare sector. 

The decree will include sanctions against the storage and use of e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products, and addictive substances that do harm to public health, the representative of the Department of Legal Affairs informed.

The Ministry of Health also suggested organizing training courses to improve the capability of officials in charge of inspections, supervision and punishment; and enhancing the handling of violations.

The ministry floated the idea of expanding rehabilitation facilities using funding from the Vietnam Tobacco Control Fund to make them more friendly and accessible, while building a smoke-free environment so that people, especially children, can enjoy clean air.

The ban of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products is a stride in Vietnam’s cigarette prevention and control campaign, Nguyen Tuan Lam, an expert from the World Health Organization in Vietnam, said at the workshop.

In the coming time, Vietnam should focus on cracking down on the smuggling, trade, and advertising of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products.

Fines should be stringent enough to deter such actions, Lam emphasized, adding that greater attention should be directed toward the online sale and promotion of e-cigarettes.

A campaign similar to those promoting helmet use and banning drunk driving should be initiated, alongside awareness initiatives and the involvement of relevant sectors and agencies.

Lam also suggested conducting regular surveys and evaluations to monitor the effectiveness of the prohibition.

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