The Vietnamese Ministry of Health has called for a ban on the sale of new tobacco products as they increase the health burden, posing a threat to public health, safety, and the environment.
New tobacco products such as vapes and heated tobacco products will have harmful effects. Vietnam’s Ministry of Health said at a seminar held on October 29. Vietnamnet reported on October 30.
Deputy Health Minister Tran Van Thuan said that in addition to traditional tobacco, vapes, heated cigarettes, and blended tobacco products are also available. Although these products are not yet allowed to be shipped and sold in Vietnam, their utilization is rising rapidly, especially among high school students in urban areas.
The minister noted that according to 2021 data. Vietnam’s overall smoking rate is 20.8 percent, with 41.1 percent of adult males among the world leaders. In 2022 alone, the economic cost of tobacco-related medical expenses, lost productivity due to illness, and premature death will reach 1.14 percent of national GDP, five times the revenue from tobacco taxes.
In just two years, the use of vapes among students aged 13 to 15 has risen significantly from 3.5% in 2022 to 8.0% in 2023, according to Ha Anh Duc. Director of the Department of Health Services Management. The smoking rate for all age groups was 7.3% for those aged 15-24, 3.2% for those aged 25-44, and 1.4% for those aged 45-64.
Vietnam’s Health Ministry has recommended that the National Assembly ban the production, sale, import, and advertising of vapes, heated cigarette products, and other new tobacco products. At the same time, the Ministry of Health is working on a revised Tobacco Harm Prevention Act.
