Growing concern over smokeless tobacco

Rules and regulations are in place, but what might be required in the fight against chewable tobacco could be public awareness and will.

While trading of chewable tobacco is banned, there have been incidents of smuggling the goods.

The Royal Oman Police on Wednesday reported that the Coast Guard police boats in Dhofar Governorate arrested four people while trying to smuggle more than 38,000 bags of chewing tobacco, and legal procedures were being completed.

Chewing tobacco comes under the category of smokeless tobacco. In Oman, the Consumer Protection Authority introduced Resolution No 301, 2016, amending Resolution No 256 of 2015, banning the trading of chewing (smokeless) tobacco; and in accordance with public interest, it was decided that Article One and Article Two of the above-mentioned Resolution No 256 of 2015 shall be replaced with: ‘Without prejudice to the penalties prescribed under the above-mentioned Consumer Protection Law, whoever violates the provisions hereof shall be administratively fined RO 1,000 and the fine shall be doubled upon repeating the violation.

In case of the continuation of violation, an administrative fine of RO 50 for each day of violation shall be imposed, provided that the total fine shall not exceed RO 2,000.

The seized amounts of chewing (smokeless) tobacco shall be destroyed in accordance with the applicable regulations of the Public Authority for Consumer Protection.’

The Sultanate of Oman became a Party to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control on June 7, 2005.

Way back in 2001, the ministerial decision from the Commerce ministry had stated that cigarettes and other tobacco products shall not be imported or displayed for sale except when an amount of nicotine in the tobacco of a single cigarette shall not exceed 0.6 mg, amount of tar in the tobacco of a single cigarette not exceeding 10 mg, amount of carbon monoxide in the tobacco of a single cigarette not exceeding 12 mg, number of cigarettes in a single pack shall not exceed 20 cigarettes, batch number shall be written on each pack of cigarettes and other tobacco products and on its shipping document.

Such information shall be clearly and legibly written in Arabic on each pack of cigarettes or other tobacco products. It may be written in any other foreign language next to the Arabic — percentage of tar and nicotine and health warning on the front side of a pack. But these requirements are overlooked by the producers and consumers of chewable tobaccos.

The reason strict measures are taken against the use of chewable tobacco is because of health concerns. According to Lung.org, smokeless tobacco contains at least 28 cancer causing chemicals referred to carcinogens.

The diseases that are linked to the usage of smokeless tobacco use are gum disease, tooth decay, tooth loss and the formation of white or gray patches inside the mouth called leukoplakia that could lead to cancer.

A publication by WHO (Eastern Mediterranean Region) pointed out that the health dangers of smokeless tobacco use are little understood by users.

In its recommendations, WHO states that smokeless tobacco use should be included in tobacco control efforts and should include education of the public and health professionals about the health risks of smokeless tobacco users as well as cessation interventions for smokeless tobacco users.