Economy

Kenya to ban printing of brand names on cigarette packets

SMOKE

The World Health Organisation has been pushing African countries to come up with strict tobacco control laws saying smoking is responsible for the increase in chronic diseases like heart disease, diabetes and cancer. PHOTO | FILE

Though Kenya is yet to meet all the World Health Organisation recommendations on tobacco control, the country is intensifying its efforts to tighten the noose on tobacco business.

Recently, the Ministry of Health published the Tobacco Control Regulations, 2014, which will effectively ban cigarette manufacturers, distributors and importers from printing brand names or trademarks on cigarette packages and wrappers from June this year.

Instead, the packages will carry health warnings and pictograms on the front and back.

“A person shall not manufacture, sell, distribute or import a tobacco product for sale in Kenya, whose packaging carries a name, brand name, text, trademark or pictorials or any representation or sign that suggest that the tobacco product is less harmful to health than other tobacco products,” the regulations said in part.

The pictogram will be printed in colour, contrasting with the background to ensure visibility, while the health warning messages will be printed in black and white.

The health warning message on the front of the package will be printed in English while the one in the back will be in Kiswahili.

The regulations, published by Cabinet Secretary James Macharia, say the health warnings and messages should be printed on both the wrapper and the packet.

READ: Cigarette packs to have graphic images of health risks

Tobacco companies have criticised the regulation, saying public participation was missing in the formulation process.

“Contrary to the Kenyan Constitution, this provision seeks to restrict and/or ban public participation. WHO’s Framework Convention for Tobacco Control (FCTC) Article 5.3 itself is clear that its implementation must be in accordance with local laws,” said a statement from tobacco companies.

Though not opposed to the introduction of pictorial health warnings, the companies said it was unfair for the Cabinet Secretary to impose high costs on manufacturers with no corresponding public health benefit.

“It is our belief that there is no evidence showing a reduction in smoking rates in countries that have enacted pictorial health warnings, illustrating that such graphics are not effective at promoting cessation,” the companies said.

WHO has been pushing African countries to come up with strict tobacco control laws saying smoking is responsible for the increase in chronic diseases like heart disease, diabetes and cancer. In adults, cigarette smoking causes heart disease and stroke.

Studies have also shown that early signs of these diseases can be found in adolescents who smoke.

To make the tracing process easier, the new regulations require that cigarette packets contain a batch number that will help determine the place, manufacturing date and country of origin.

“A manufacturer shall, upon request, provide the Cabinet Secretary with information to enable him to interpret the code marking on a tobacco product,” the new regulations say.

The above requirement is in addition to the Tobacco Control Act of 2007, which requires manufactures to submit to the ministry information on the toxicology of the ingredients and leaf used in the manufacture of the products.

The companies criticised the Cabinet Secretary, saying he is not empowered to create criminal offences and sanctions beyond those in the Tobacco Control Act of 2007.

They also criticised the regulations, describing them as repressive and calculated to criminalise the industry and anyone associated with it.

Mr Macharia said that, in future, tobacco laws would also focus on the social, economic and environmental impacts of tobacco farming.

As a result, the Ministry of Agriculture will also be required to help come up with economic alternatives for tobacco farmers, to help them abandon the crop.