Vietnam National Assembly Television discusses special consumption tax plan to prevent and combat the harmful effects of tobacco

(CLO) On October 18, Vietnam National Assembly Television organized a policy dialogue with the topic "Special consumption tax plan towards the goal of the National Strategy on preventing and combating the harmful effects of tobacco by 2030".

Speaking at the opening of the seminar, General Director of Vietnam National Assembly Television Le Quang Minh said that in order to reduce the rate of tobacco use, the rate of passive exposure to tobacco smoke, and reduce diseases and deaths caused by the use of tobacco products, on May 24, 2023, the Prime Minister issued Decision No. 568/QD-TTg approving the National Strategy on Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harms to 2030.

Seminar on “Special consumption tax plan towards the goal of the National Strategy on prevention and control of tobacco harms by 2030”. Photo: Thanh Hong

The strategy aims to reduce the rate of tobacco use among men aged 15 and over to below 39% by 2025; and among women aged 15 and over to below 1.4%. By 2030, reduce the rate of tobacco use among men aged 15 and over to below 36%; and among women aged 15 and over to below 1%.

At the Seminar, experts and scientists presented papers on: Tobacco harms, current tobacco use status, risks of not achieving the Strategy's goals; New challenges in preventing tobacco harms and implementing the Strategy; Alarming situation of tobacco use among children in Vietnam; Special consumption tax on tobacco - international experience and recommendations for Vietnam to achieve the goals of the National Strategy on Tobacco Harm Prevention and Control by 2030".

According to experts, in the Draft Law on Special Consumption Tax (amended), the drafting agency proposed to increase the tax rate on tobacco products to contribute to regulating consumption and implementing international commitments. Specifically, tobacco products will maintain the tax rate of 75% and add an absolute tax rate according to the annual roadmap in the period from 2026-2030 with two options.

Although these two options are considered steps in the right direction, to achieve the goal of reducing smoking rates of the National Strategy on Tobacco Harm Prevention by 2030, stronger solutions are needed.

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/truyen-hinh-quoc-hoi-viet-nam-toa-dam-ve-thue-tieu-thu-dac-biet-san-pham-thuoc-la-post317466.html