House Bill No. 8-8-1, HD2 was introduced in the Senate to help protect Palau against the health, social, environmental and economic consequences of tobacco use and exposure by amending sections of the Palau National Code.
Tobacco-related illness is one of the leading causes of health problems in Palau, and according to the report submitted by the Committee to Senate President Mlib Tmetuchl, implementation of this measure will go a long way towards ensuring that the public is protected against unwanted exposure to tobacco use and that future generations understand tobacco use is a significant health risk.
The implementing legislation regulates tobacco sale, importation, exportation, distribution, manufacturing and use and provides provisions for enforcing the act and imposing penalties for violations.
This bill bans the use of tobacco in many public places, such as sports, educational and health care facilities. Employers and managers of facilities are also required to post signs and enforce the non-smoking bans. But their obligations do not extend to enforcing the non-use of tobacco generally. The bill also restricts any advertising for tobacco products that promotes the purchase or use of tobacco.
The bill also requires that the divisions of Customs and Taxation and the Minister of Finance to issue regulations against illegal importation and manufacturing of tobacco and to coordinate these efforts internationally.
According to the Committee report, there was a positive response from the public during public hearings on this bill. The public, however, expressed concern that there is a lack of awareness that tobacco use, whether by smoking or by chewing, has significant health consequences.
“The casual attitude towards tobacco consumption has been adopted by our children who see health professionals, teachers and their parents use tobacco and therefore believe that using tobacco is appropriate and safe,” the Committee report said.
