Government eyes anti-tobacco law

By Lee Hyo-sik

The government plans to introduce a comprehensive anti-tobacco law this year to reduce medical expenses incurred to treat lung cancer and other illnesses caused by smoking.

Among others, the new law will force tobacco makers to make all cigarette ingredients and additives public, as well as place more restrictions on how producers manufacture, sell and advertize their products.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare said Wednesday that it will forward an inclusive anti-cigarette law, tentatively named ``Tobacco Safety Management and Smoking Prevention Law,’’ to the National Assembly in 2012 for approval.

The ministry said it will consolidate cigarette-related laws into a comprehensive one to more effectively regulate the manufacture, sale and promotion of cigarette products.

Under the planned law, tobacco product makers will be required to release a list of all harmful substances and additives included in cigarettes and the quantity.

Under the current Tobacco Law, cigarette companies are obliged to make public only how much nicotine and tar are contained. They are not required to reveal information on the list or amounts of additives and other cigarette ingredients to the public.

``The envisioned law will mandate cigarette producers to disclose more information on their products, as well as prevent them from launching promotional activities, particularly ones that target adolescents,’’ a ministry official said.

He said the planned law will be similar to the United States’ Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, which was introduced in June 2009.

The act strengthened rules on the manufacturing and marketing of cigarette products in the U.S. It also forced tobacco makers to place warning photos against smoking on cigarette boxes in a bid to raise public awareness of various health hazards caused by smoking.

``We plan to require cigarette firms to print warning photos against smoking on cigarette boxes, and make it more difficult for them to carry out promotional activities and sponsor various events,’’ the official said.

The ministry said the new law will introduce a roadmap for how cigarette prices will be raised in the coming years, and authorize the Korea Food and Drug Administration to regulate safety issues concerning cigarettes.