New Tobacco Control Bill Targets Ads, Packaging, and Smoke-Free Spaces

A major health move is before parliament tonight. Minister of Health Kevin Bernard has introduced a Tobacco Control Bill that could permanently change the way Belize deals with smoking. The bill aims to bring Belize in line with World Health Organization standards, protecting current and future generations from the dangers of tobacco and secondhand smoke. It’s really about helping kids avoid getting hooked, keeping our public spaces smoke-free, and making sure people have the info they need to make smart choices. The legislation also calls for clear packaging rules, strict advertising limits, and a national body to coordinate tobacco control.

 

Kevin Bernard, Minister of Health & Wellness

“I rise to introduce a bill for an act to provide for the adoption and the implementation of the tobacco control policies in accordance with the World Health Organization’s framework convention on tobacco control which aims to protect present and future generations from the devastating harms of tobacco use and exposure to tobacco smoke, to prevent tobacco use by children, to protect workers and the public from exposure to tobacco smoke, to enhance public awareness of the hazards of tobacco use and exposure to tobacco smoke, to ensure that individuals are provided with information to make fully informed decisions about the use of tobacco. To create a national coordinating mechanism for tobacco control and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto. This tobacco control bill seeks to provide for the adoption and the implementation of tobacco control policies in accordance with the World Health Organization framework convention on tobacco control. I want to start off by thanking our stakeholders, our partners in health, such as PAHO, their technical team, the technical team from the Ministry of Health & Wellness and the directors, to the opposition members for also participating in our briefing that we had with them.”

 

Belize ratified FCTC in 2005 but still lacks comprehensive smoke-free laws and ad bans. So tonight, we’re asking: Why did it take 20 years to act, and what agency will lead this effort? How will compliance be monitored and enforced?