The National Assembly disapproved the endorsement of the National Council to lift the ban on the sale and distribution of tobacco products in the country. Members said the ban should not be lifted, instead penalty should be reduced. This was decided today while deliberating the Tobacco Control Amendment Bill 2014.
The National Council had, during the last session, endorsed that the ban on the import of tobacco products should come lifted after paying of taxes and duties. Today, the National Assembly members said it should not be lifted. Instead, the members agreed that a person found selling or distributing products shall be punished with misdemeanor as the per the Penal Code and pay fine equivalent of 12 months and maximum of 35 months of minimum wage. The person, if found, repeating the offence for the second time, shall be punished with felony of fourth degree.
The members also agreed that a person found buying tobacco products more than times beyond permissible quantity, shall be punished with felony of fourth degree.
A defendant convicted of a felony of the fourth degree shall be sentenced to a minimum of three years and a maximum of 5 years imprisonment.
Meanwhile, the National Assembly’s legislative committee recommended increasing the quantity of tobacco products an individual can import for personal use after the payment of tax.
The recommendations includes increasing of import of cigarette sticks from 300 to 900 sticks, 400 sticks of Bidis to 1,200, 50 pieces of cigars to 150 pieces and from 250 grams of tobacco to 750 grams of tobacco.
However, some members expressed concerns with regard to increasing the quantity. Even after much deliberation members could not come to the consensus. Therefore, the House directed the legislative committee to re-work on the permissible quantity. The Bill will be deliberated further.
