The National Assembly through a majority vote passed the Tobacco Control (Amendment) Bill of Bhutan 2021 today. With the amendment of the Bill, individuals can now sell, buy and distribute tobacco and tobacco products in the country.
The Bill was presented as an Urgent Bill in light of the continuous smuggling of tobacco products through the country’s porous southern border and associated threats of importing coronavirus into the country.
As per the records maintained with the police, over a hundred people were arrested in connection with the smuggling of tobacco goods during border sealing from March last year to June this year. Tobacco smuggling incidences were reported from Phuentshogling, Samtse, Gelephu and Samdrup Jongkhar.
The legislative committee after studying the Tobacco Control Amendment Bill 2010, repealed sections 11 (b) and (c) of the Bill. As per the Section, no person in the country shall sell, distribute, buy, possess, and transport tobacco and tobacco products. The committee also removed other sections concerning fines and penalties and possession and transportation of tobacco and tobacco products.
And, as an interim measure, the National Assembly also agreed to eliminate the 100 per cent sales tax on tobacco products. This, according to the finance minister will reduce the risk of virus importation and the illegal market in the country.
The minister said that the Tax Bill will expire with the implementation of the Goods and Services Act scheduled for rollout from July next year.
The Bills will now be deliberated in the National Council for consideration.
Pema Seldon Tshering / SonamTenzin
