VIENTIANE, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- The printing of graphic health warning images on all cigarette packets made by Lao companies will be postponed until May 1, 2017, a delay of seven months from the original agreement to start printing the new packs this month.
The Ministry of Health had previously stipulated that all cigarette packets should carry graphic health warning images starting in October 2016 but manufacturers requested a postponement, reported local Vientiane Times on Sunday.
Manufacturers said they had a large stockpile of printed packets and also requested a reduction in the size of the graphic image from 75 percent to 50 percent of the total packet. The Ministry of Health and the National Committee for Tobacco Control only acceded to the first request while rejected the proposal of smaller image to be printed.
A request for the postponement of the printing date had been submitted to the Prime Minister's Office, said the ministry. To prevent the manufacturers from requesting a further postponement, the document submitted stated that tobacco companies would be fined if the cigarette packets did not carry the new health warnings starting on May 1, 2017.
Several companies that import cigarettes from neighboring countries have agreed to abide by the regulation to start selling packs of cigarettes carrying graphic health warnings in October.
The graphic images are one step towards fulfilling Laos' obligations under Article 11 of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. According to the World Health Organization in Laos, as many as 13 people die every day in Laos from tobacco-related illnesses.
Laos is one of 77 countries and jurisdictions that require graphic health warning images to be printed on cigarette packets.
