Tobacco.org

Another contraband tobacco seizure 

Customs officials seized tobacco products worth Nu 58,600 from an Indian vehicle at around 10:30 am yesterday in Phuentsholing.

The Indian vehicle, parked near the main gate, was headed towards Paro. An informer had tipped officials over the telephone about the illegal smuggling that was taking place.

According to the head of customs department in Phuentsholing, Wangchuk Thaye, the tobacco products seized included the Indian cigarette Wills, chewing tobacco Baba and bidis. The

Jump to full article »

Tobacco worth of Nu. 400,000 apprehended 

Custom officials in Phuentsholing have seized tobacco products worth Nu. 400,000. The consignment was being smuggled in a truck.

It was apprehended at around 7:30 am on Saturday at Rinchending. This is the largest consignment of tobacco products to be seized so far. It was being smuggled in a truck hidden carefully under a load of fertilizers.

Jump to full article »

Single tobacco smuggler busted twice 

Custom officials in the border town of Phuentsholing seized tobacco products worth Nu 200,000 over the weekend.

The seized items were mostly Indian brand Wills cigarettes and Baba chewing tobacco.

According to the head of customs department (DRC), Wangchuk Thayey, on the evening of June 13 mobile inspectors while inspecting an Indian vehicle near Karbytar found 800 Wills packets and two sacks of Baba chewing tobacco.

Jump to full article »

Lights Out for Smokers in Bhutan 

As Bhutan sets about measuring the kingdom's happiness levels, one group might not be smiling: smokers.

Each year, countries around the world are putting more restrictions on cigarettes, heaping new taxes and health warnings on top of limitations on where they can be smoked and how they can be advertised. But Bhutan has taken the ultimate step -- banning the sale of all tobacco products.

Jump to full article »

• Lights Out for Smokers in Himalayan Kingdom 

While it's still legal to smoke here, the only legal way to acquire a cigarette is to bring in a carton -- the maximum allowed -- overland from neighboring India or on one of the two planes of Druk Air, Bhutan's national airline. People bringing in cigarettes pay duties and taxes equal to 200% of the price.

The three-year-old ban is one of many policies stemming from Bhutan's concept of Gross National Happiness, which aims to keep people happy by protecting the environment and upholding cultural traditions. But the government also had more tangible reasons for the ban: Bhutan provides universal health care, and the burden of treating tobacco-related disease is something it says it can't afford. "Without smoking, the cost of health care would be tremendously lower," says Dorji Wangchuk, director-general for medical services at Bhutan's Ministry of Health.

The move could make Bhutan a laboratory to test whether legislation banning cigarette sales will help people kick the habit.

Yet, as a laboratory for such a bold move, it is hardly an ideal place.

Jump to full article »

Tobacco products worth Nu. 60,000 seized 

In Thimphu, officials from the Department of Trade and other agencies including the Royal Bhutan Police seized tobacco products worth Nu. 60, 000 from a shop in the old vegetable market area yesterday.

The raid was conducted by the sub-committee for tobacco control. . . .

The Department of Trade has cancelled 34 Micro Trade license since sale of tobacco was banned in 2004. 11 were canceled in Thimphu alone this January.

Jump to full article »

• Bhutan's total tobacco ban a breath of fresh air 

If your nicotine patch isn't cooling your ardor for cigarettes, or you're tired of smelling stale tobacco smoke in rental cars, there's a spot at the top of the world for you. Bhutan, already one of the world's most beautiful places, is the first country in the world to institute a complete ban on smoking.

Reaching 24,500 feet high in the Himalayas, the Kingdom of Bhutan was almost completely isolated until 40 years ago, with no roads, schools, electricity, phones, radios or cars. Since then, this Switzerland-size country has stepped gingerly into the modern world, restricting tourists and fiercely protecting the nation's environmental and cultural purity.

Jump to full article »

• Tobacco law absence spurs black market  

More than two years after it made history by becoming the first nation to ban tobacco sales and smoking in public, the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan is still awaiting a law to back the ban while a black market in tobacco flourishes. The Tobacco Control Legislation is yet to be drafted though the sale of tobacco was banned in December 2004 and smoking in public places two months later. As the stakeholders met in capital city Thimphu last week to discuss the draft, the battle on tobacco seemed to be losing steam with participants also discussing whether entertainment centres like discotheques, snooker rooms and bars should have a designated room or area for smokers, Bhutan’s official media reported. “It has been a struggle to enforce the ban, especially in these entertainment places,” one of the participants told Kuensel daily.

Jump to full article »

• Two years after tobacco ban, Bhutan still awaits law 

More than two years after it made history by becoming the first nation to ban tobacco sales and smoking in public, the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan is still awaiting a law to back the ban while a black market in tobacco flourishes.

The Tobacco Control Legislation is yet to be drafted though the sale of tobacco was banned in December 2004 and smoking in public places two months later.

As the stakeholders met in capital city Thimphu last week to discuss the draft, the battle on tobacco seemed to be losing steam with participants also discussing whether entertainment centres like discotheques, snooker rooms and bars should have a designated room or area for smokers, Bhutan's official media reported.

'It has been a struggle to enforce the ban, especially in these entertainment places,' one of the participants told Kuensel daily.

Jump to full article »

• Tobacco legislation at hand 

More than two years after the nationwide ban on the sale of tobacco products and smoking in public places, a legislation on tobacco control is finally being prepared to give the ban a legal backing.

“The ban has been there but only through notifications and warnings serving as a deterrent but there was no specific legal backing to penalise or fine people breaking the ban,” said the consultant from Myanmar, Dr. Nyo Nyo Kyaing who was recruited with World Health Organisation (WHO) assistance to work on the tobacco legislation for Bhutan. “There has to be a legislation for the ban to be effective because it is important to make clear all the offences and the penalties.”

Jump to full article »

Tobacco and betel nut top seizure list 

Of the 461 seizures of illegal goods worth Nu. 1.67 million made in 2005, tobacco products and betel nut products topped the list according to the National Revenue Report 2005-06.

A dissection of seizure items showed 105 seizures to be tobacco products followed by 53 seizures of betel nuts. The rest were garments (27), aerated water (21), plastic bags (20) and sugar (14). The top seven items constituted 52 percent of the total seizure goods.

The number of seizure cases had decreased from 2002 to 2004 but saw a drastic increase in 2005.

In 2002, 313 seizures worth about Nu.841,000 were recorded. It decreased to 290 the next year but was worth Nu. 1.71 million. It decreased further to 193 cases in 2004 and was worth Nu.1.08 million.

Jump to full article »

• Tobacco ban faring well?  

The trade department has cancelled 23 trade licenses in the country found selling tobacco products and collected a fine of Nu. 230,000 till date after the ban on the sale of tobacco was imposed in the country on December 17, 2004.

The break up shows 11 licenses in Thimphu and six each in Paro and Samdrup Jongkhar. The joint director of trade department, Dophu Tshering said that licenses were cancelled the moment business outlets were found selling tobacco products and a fine of Nu. 10,000 was also imposed.

“Businesses have been notified for a long time and there is no need for a warning and the licenses will be cancelled on the first instance,” Dophu Tshering said.

Jump to full article »

Tobacco worth Nu.205,360 seized 

The vigilance team of the regional revenue and customs office in Phuentsholing b seized tobacco products worth Nu. 205,360 from a truck bound for Thimphu on the morning of October 11.

The sacks and boxes of cigarettes like Wills, Charms and other tobacco products like Baba, Montu biri, and Talab in the back of the truck were covered with a tarpaulin on which were a load of bamboo poles.

Jump to full article »

• Bumthang not tobacco free 

“Welcome to a tobacco free dzongkhag”- that was the first sign that would greet people coming to Bumthang not long ago.

The dzongkhag was commended for being the first to impose a ban on the sale of tobacco. It even won an award of recognition from the World Health Organisation (WHO) for its efforts.

But today, after a nationwide ban was imposed on December 17,2004, finding a place to buy a packet of cigarette or a packet of baba (chewing tobacco) in Bumthang is difficult, only if you are a stranger.

“If you are new in the town, you won’t find any,” said a town resident. “They sell only to people they know.”

Tobacco is available, the only change is the price.

Jump to full article »

• Thimphu to combat tobacco black market 

The trade department is roping in thromdey or town representatives in Thimphu to clamp down on the thriving tobacco black market. More than a year after the government banned the sale of tobacco, regulating authorities said that there were many shops selling tobacco products under the counter and through other outlets.

“Despite regular inspections and monitoring, the market is thriving,” said the trade joint director, Dophu Tshering,. “We want to bring this market under control and involve as many stakeholders as possible.”

The town representatives from Taba, Dechenchholing, Motithang, Changzamtog, the Sunday market area, and Norzin lam area will help the department and the various tobacco control committees in educating and creating awareness among the public besides keeping vigilance, according to the director.

Jump to full article »