Criteria for awarding the Smoke-Free Environment Award

Tiêu chí xét tặng Giải thưởng Môi trường không thuốc lá - Ảnh 1. — The Smoke-Free Environment Award is given to organizations and individuals whose smoking-free locations meet the prescribed standards.

The Circular clearly states that the Smoke-Free Environment Award (Award) is awarded to organizations and individuals whose smoking-free locations meet the prescribed standards and are selected by the Award Council at the Department of Health and Ministry of Health levels (Award Council).

The award is decided by the Minister of Health based on the proposal of the Ministry of Health Award Council (Ministry of Health Council).

The award is organized and considered every 2 years (award period) and is valid during the award period.

Award Criteria

According to the Circular, the criteria for considering the Award are as follows:

1- Meet the requirements for organizing the implementation of no-smoking locations according to regulations;

2- Implement the following regulations well: Include the regulation on smoking ban in the internal rules and regulations of the unit or integrate it into the internal rules and regulations of the unit, including regulations on emulation, rewards, and handling of violations of the law; assign and assign tasks to individuals and departments responsible for urging, inspecting, and handling violations of the law according to the internal rules and regulations of the unit regarding the implementation of no-smoking areas; organize dissemination and education for employees of the facility; remind visitors to the location about the implementation of the regulation on smoking ban; direct the placement of signs at locations under management and periodically check and replace damaged signs; provide items to contain cigarette butts and ashes in areas where smoking is permitted and areas reserved for smokers; reward, discipline, and handle violations related to the implementation of no-smoking areas according to the provisions of law; Make a record of administrative violations according to authority (if any) to impose penalties according to authority prescribed by law or recommend competent authorities to impose administrative penalties.

3- No smoking in non-smoking areas;

4- No tobacco advertising or promotion activities; direct tobacco marketing to consumers in any form; no organization, permission or sale of tobacco in places where smoking is completely prohibited indoors and within the premises (medical facilities; educational facilities, etc.); places where smoking is completely prohibited indoors (indoor workplaces of state administrative agencies, public service units, enterprises, political organizations, socio-political organizations, social organizations, socio-professional organizations, etc.); public transport (cars; airplanes; trains); places where smoking is prohibited indoors but where there are designated areas for smokers (airport isolation areas; bars, karaoke bars, dance clubs, etc.), except for duty-free shops in airport isolation areas;

5- Do not receive funding from tobacco production and trading establishments according to the provisions of the Law on Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harms.

Priority criteria for awarding the Award

According to the Circular, the priority criteria for considering the Award are:

1- Have initiatives on preventing and combating the harmful effects of tobacco that have been recognized by competent authorities;

2- Have been commended by competent authorities for good implementation of regulations on prevention and control of tobacco harms, priority order according to reward level from high to low;

3- Arrange the unit's budget or mobilize funding sources to sponsor the implementation of regulations on smoke-free environments (except for funding from the Tobacco Harm Prevention Fund);

4- Use cameras to detect smoking in prohibited areas;

5- Have a counseling room or organize regular counseling and support activities to quit smoking;

6- Have educational materials and messages promoting smoking cessation. Have billboards, posters, leaflets or other communication materials about the harmful effects of tobacco in visible locations, in areas with a lot of people passing by in places where smoking is prohibited.

The time to evaluate the award criteria is calculated within a period of 2 consecutive years up to the time of award consideration.

The Circular takes effect on August 1, 2023.

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