Paulina Quintso – The Chief of the Department of Non-infectious Diseases, at the Ministry of Health, Dr Herculano Seixas do Santos said now the Tobacco Control Law has been approved by the Timorese Council of Ministers, the ministry has begun socialising its contents to the community.
He added so far information has been shared through the mass media, television, radio and newspapers including about the sanctions that apply based on the law so that people are not caught by surprise when these start being implemented.
He said also that the health ministry has also started sharing information about the law across all the municipalities including messages about the harmful effects of smoking to health.
"The law was approved by the Council of Minister so now the ministry of health has six months to socialise it to the community," said Dr Santos in Dili. "We are expecting to start implementing the law by June."
Dr Santos explained that according to article 32 cigarettes cannot be sold to anyone under the age of 17; it also bans cigarette advertising; it bans smoking in public spaces and in particular in offices, in health facilities and in school precincts; and in public transport.
The illegal sales of cigarettes is also banned and it includes also a ban on the sale of electronic cigarettes. It also prescribes that cigarettes packaging must include health message warnings.
"It also defines sanctions and for instance anyone smoking inside public transportation will get a fine of $20 to $50."
He added the law also allows the ministry of health to establish a national authority on tobacco control that will be tasked with the implementation of the tobacco control law in Timor-Leste.
Meanwhile the Deputy Minister of Public Works, Transport and Communication (MOPTK), Eng Inacio Moreira said his ministry will work with the Traffic Police Unit of the National Police PNTL to control smoking in spaces where smoking is banned by law.
"Public transport drivers who break law will get their licenses confiscated. They will follow orders and will not the joking around," said Vice Minister Moreira. He added that even though drivers have the right to smoke that this right does not include harming passenger's health.
The Director of Youth Unity for Community Progress (UJPC) Euklidis Torrezao said his organisation is ready to work with the Health Ministry to raise awareness of the tobacco control law in the community and in public transport.
"We have already been socialising the law and the Prime Minister's circular to drivers of public transport so they are aware of the harmful impacts of smoking to passenger's health," he said.