On November 21, the Ministry of Information and Communications held a training conference to improve communication capacity on tobacco harm prevention for reporters and editors of newspapers and radio stations.
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| The conference aims to enhance the understanding and interest of reporters and editors of central and local press and radio agencies in disseminating content on tobacco harm prevention and control in Vietnam. (Photo: Xuan Son) |
Attending the Conference were Mr. Ho Hong Hai, Deputy Director of the Department of Legal Affairs, Ministry of Information and Communications, Ms. Phan Thi Hai, Deputy Director in charge of the Fund for Prevention of Tobacco Harms, Ministry of Health, along with reporters, reporters and editors of newspapers and radio stations.
Speaking at the opening of the Conference, Mr. Ho Hong Hai, Deputy Director of the Department of Legal Affairs, Ministry of Information and Communications emphasized that over the years, the Department has closely coordinated with the Fund for Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harms, Ministry of Health, and the active cooperation of press agencies to promote the advantages of communication work, orient information, disseminate quickly and widely, contributing to promoting good propaganda work on prevention and control of tobacco harms.
Currently, the use of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products in Vietnam is increasing, especially among young people, students, and pupils who are taking advantage of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products to circulate and use illegal drugs. In the first quarter of 2024, the police nationwide detected and handled 111 cases, 152 subjects related to e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products, of which 33 cases with 73 subjects were prosecuted for drug crimes.
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| Mr. Ho Hong Hai, Deputy Director of the Department of Legal Affairs, Ministry of Information and Communications delivered the opening speech. (Photo: Xuan Son) |
Presenting on the topic “Tobacco tax - an effective solution to reduce tobacco use”, Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Huong, Fund for Tobacco Harm Prevention, Ministry of Health said that tobacco use is one of the leading causes of illness and premature death. Tobacco contains 7,000 chemicals, including 69 carcinogens and is the cause of 25 diseases (cancer, cardiovascular, respiratory and reproductive diseases).
Recent research shows that the annual economic cost of tobacco use in Vietnam is estimated at VND108 trillion, equivalent to 1.14% of GDP (2022). This figure is five times larger than the contribution of tobacco tax revenue to the national budget.
Tobacco taxes and prices in Vietnam are currently low compared to other countries in the world and the general level of countries in the region. According to the 2014 amended Law on Special Consumption Tax No. 70/2014/QH13, Vietnam is currently applying a special consumption tax rate of 75% and the taxable price is the factory price. The tobacco tax rate calculated based on retail price (including special consumption tax and value added tax) accounts for only 38.8% according to the WHO report in 2023.
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| Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Huong, Fund for Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harms, Ministry of Health presented on the topic "Tobacco tax - an effective solution to reduce tobacco use rate". (Photo: Xuan Son) |
Presenting on “Tobacco tax in Vietnam: the need to increase tax, assessment of tax options, international experience and WHO recommendations”, Mr. Nguyen Tuan Lam, tobacco harm prevention expert of the World Health Organization (WHO), said that the experience of tobacco tax reform in Thailand and the Philippines shows that imposing high tax rates and increasing tobacco taxes regularly has helped reduce smoking rates, reduce tobacco consumption in the community and help increase tax revenue from tobacco.
To effectively reduce tobacco consumption, WHO recommends adding a specific tax (to move to a mixed tax system) at a sufficiently high level and increasing the tax in a steady manner so that tobacco prices keep up with income growth and gradually move towards the optimal tax rate of 75% of the retail price to contribute to the goal of reducing tobacco use.
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| Mr. Nguyen Tuan Lam, WHO tobacco harm prevention expert, presented on “Tobacco tax in Vietnam: the need to increase tax, assessment of tax options, international experience and WHO recommendations”. (Photo: Xuan Son) |
In the topic “Increasing tobacco taxes and the relationship with smuggling and employment”, Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Anh, Center for Policy and Development Studies, emphasized that smuggled cigarettes are significantly more expensive than legal cigarettes. This difference is significantly higher in the Central and Northern provinces, although these are the provinces with the lowest rate of smuggled cigarettes.
Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Anh affirmed that tobacco tax is a special policy tool that brings dual benefits, reducing tobacco consumption, improving people's health, saving on tobacco-related medical costs, and increasing government revenue.
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| Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Anh, Center for Policy and Development Research, presented the topic "Increasing tobacco tax and its relationship with smuggling and employment". (Photo: Xuan Son) |
Regarding “The role of tobacco excise tax in sustainable socio-economic development”, Mr. Nguyen Anh Duong, Central Institute for Economic Management, said that excise tax is an indirect tax, levied on certain types of goods and services that are considered luxury or not encouraged for consumption, thereby regulating production, import and social consumption. Vietnam needs to firmly believe that increasing excise tax is a key and effective strategy to reduce tobacco consumption, especially for low-income people and children.
Mr. Nguyen Anh Duong proposed that Vietnam should actively consider switching to a mixed special consumption tax mechanism for tobacco; review and improve the effectiveness of communication on the request to increase special consumption tax on tobacco in association with promoting sustainable economic development; strengthen consultation with international organizations and domestic and foreign experts on implementing tax policies on tobacco in general and special consumption tax on tobacco in particular in association with promoting sustainable economic development.
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| Mr. Nguyen Anh Duong, Central Institute for Economic Management, presented on “The role of tobacco excise tax in sustainable socio-economic development”. (Photo: Xuan Son) |
In an interview with The World and Vietnam Newspaper , Mr. Nguyen Anh Duong, Central Institute for Economic Management, emphasized two challenges in achieving the goal of reducing smoking rates in the community, including consumer awareness and building a tax roadmap, especially special consumption tax on tobacco, to ensure harmony of interests of all parties.
Regarding solutions to raise awareness among young people about preventing the harmful effects of tobacco, Mr. Nguyen Anh Duong affirmed that we must increase the dissemination of research results on the economic costs and health consequences of tobacco for young people and the community, as well as update sustainable development programs.
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