Namibia reviews tobacco law
Novel smoking products in the spotlight
It is estimated that over 1 000 smoking-related deaths are recorded in Namibia each year.
Namibia is set to review its Tobacco Products Control Act of 2010, with a week-long workshop having kicked off in Swakopmund on Monday to aid in the process.
The workshop aims to review the Act, identify gaps in its administrative, legal and regulatory provisions, and strengthen tobacco control in Namibia.
At the official opening, Dr Laimi Ashipala, on behalf of Dr Richard Banda, the WHO representative for the Namibia country office, highlighted that although Namibia’s conventional tobacco smoking has been on a downward trend, there has been a significant increase in the use of novel tobacco products such as e-cigarettes, vapes and more.
“In the Namibian context, the practice of tobacco use is more common among Namibian men than women; 19% of men smoke cigarettes or a pipe, compared to 5% of women. The likelihood of a man smoking cigarettes or a pipe increases with age, from 6% among those aged 15 to 19 years to a range between 21 and 24% among older men.”
She noted that while novel tobacco products contain no tar, which causes cancer, they do contain higher levels of nicotine, which is addictive.
She argued that to avert this public health threat, government has taken steps to implement tobacco control measures in line with the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).
“These measures include smoke-free policies, bans on advertising and promotion of tobacco products, and graphic health warnings on tobacco packaging. This framework provides a comprehensive set of evidence-based measures to reduce the demand for tobacco products, protect people from exposure to tobacco smoke and prevent tobacco industry interference in public health policies."
Stronger control measures
Ashipala further explained that the implementation of the Tobacco Products Control Act has led to a reduction in smoking rates and has helped protect non-smokers from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke.
“With the fast-evolving manufacturing, packaging and marketing of tobacco products, the current Act warrants an amendment to close the gaps the tobacco industry is using to continue promoting and selling their harmful products without being regulated. The tobacco industry continues to target vulnerable populations, such as youth and low-income communities, with aggressive marketing tactics.”
She said reviewing and revising the Tobacco Control Act will strengthen control measures against conventional tobacco products and novel tobacco and nicotine products in Namibia.
"The tobacco industry has diversified its armoury to attack and subvert any strong tobacco control efforts. The industry has been trying to grow its portfolio by adding new markets for tobacco and nicotine products," she said.
She advised that it is "paramount for Namibia to review its legislation on tobacco control and ensure a more robust legal and policy framework aligned with the latest evidence-based practices on tobacco control. WHO reaffirms its support to ensure that this process is successfully completed.”
Deputy health and social services minister, Dr Esther Muinjangue, said the 2010 Act does not make provision for regulating new emerging tobacco products.
“We have seen an increase in the use of novel tobacco and nicotine products. These novel tobacco products are not the traditional cigarettes we know, yet they are marketed as less harmful than traditional cigarettes and tobacco smoking. Equally, the Act does not make it possible for the inclusion of all relevant stakeholders on the composition of the Tobacco Product Control Committee.”
Dangerous product
The deputy minister further explained that tobacco smoking is the primary cause of lung cancer, responsible for over two-thirds of lung cancer deaths globally. Second-hand smoke exposure at home or in the workplace also increases the risk of lung cancer.
Globally, an estimated 165 000 children die before the age of five due to lower respiratory infections caused by second-hand smoke.
“Those who live on into adulthood continue to suffer the health consequences of second-hand smoke exposure, as frequent lower respiratory infections in early childhood significantly increase the risk of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in adulthood," Muinjangue warned.
In Namibia, it is estimated that tobacco consumption among adults (aged 15–49) is 20.1% among men and 5.1% for women. Among youth (aged 13–15), 31.1% use tobacco products (boys 31.9% and girls 29.9%). Second-hand smoke exposure in Namibia among youth (13–15) is at 49.9% in public places and 38.1% at home.
"Overall, every year there are over 1 000 smoking-related deaths, even though fewer men and women die on average in Namibia. In other low- and middle-income countries, about 13 men and six women die from smoking-related causes weekly,” Muinjangue said.
Roadmap discussion
Dr William Maina, coordinator of tobacco control for WHO-Afro, added that the World Health Organisation (WHO) will support Namibia over the next four years in policy adoption and implementation, capacity building and enforcement support for tobacco control regulations.
The objectives of the workshop, which concludes on Friday, are to propose and recommend ways to strengthen the Namibia Tobacco Products Control Act 1/2010 by addressing its gaps. This includes sharing global and regional best practices in tobacco control, especially concerning new and emerging nicotine and tobacco products, to inform legal reforms. Additionally, a roadmap will be developed to finalise the proposed amendments and outline the requirements for their adoption and implementation.
The expected outcomes include identifying gaps in the law, preparing draft textual proposals for amendments and agreeing on recommendations, action points or a roadmap.
Last month, Namibia observed World No Tobacco Day themed 'Protecting Children from Tobacco Industry Interference'.
The workshop aims to review the Act, identify gaps in its administrative, legal and regulatory provisions, and strengthen tobacco control in Namibia.
At the official opening, Dr Laimi Ashipala, on behalf of Dr Richard Banda, the WHO representative for the Namibia country office, highlighted that although Namibia’s conventional tobacco smoking has been on a downward trend, there has been a significant increase in the use of novel tobacco products such as e-cigarettes, vapes and more.
“In the Namibian context, the practice of tobacco use is more common among Namibian men than women; 19% of men smoke cigarettes or a pipe, compared to 5% of women. The likelihood of a man smoking cigarettes or a pipe increases with age, from 6% among those aged 15 to 19 years to a range between 21 and 24% among older men.”
She noted that while novel tobacco products contain no tar, which causes cancer, they do contain higher levels of nicotine, which is addictive.
She argued that to avert this public health threat, government has taken steps to implement tobacco control measures in line with the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).
“These measures include smoke-free policies, bans on advertising and promotion of tobacco products, and graphic health warnings on tobacco packaging. This framework provides a comprehensive set of evidence-based measures to reduce the demand for tobacco products, protect people from exposure to tobacco smoke and prevent tobacco industry interference in public health policies."
Stronger control measures
Ashipala further explained that the implementation of the Tobacco Products Control Act has led to a reduction in smoking rates and has helped protect non-smokers from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke.
“With the fast-evolving manufacturing, packaging and marketing of tobacco products, the current Act warrants an amendment to close the gaps the tobacco industry is using to continue promoting and selling their harmful products without being regulated. The tobacco industry continues to target vulnerable populations, such as youth and low-income communities, with aggressive marketing tactics.”
She said reviewing and revising the Tobacco Control Act will strengthen control measures against conventional tobacco products and novel tobacco and nicotine products in Namibia.
"The tobacco industry has diversified its armoury to attack and subvert any strong tobacco control efforts. The industry has been trying to grow its portfolio by adding new markets for tobacco and nicotine products," she said.
She advised that it is "paramount for Namibia to review its legislation on tobacco control and ensure a more robust legal and policy framework aligned with the latest evidence-based practices on tobacco control. WHO reaffirms its support to ensure that this process is successfully completed.”
Deputy health and social services minister, Dr Esther Muinjangue, said the 2010 Act does not make provision for regulating new emerging tobacco products.
“We have seen an increase in the use of novel tobacco and nicotine products. These novel tobacco products are not the traditional cigarettes we know, yet they are marketed as less harmful than traditional cigarettes and tobacco smoking. Equally, the Act does not make it possible for the inclusion of all relevant stakeholders on the composition of the Tobacco Product Control Committee.”
Dangerous product
The deputy minister further explained that tobacco smoking is the primary cause of lung cancer, responsible for over two-thirds of lung cancer deaths globally. Second-hand smoke exposure at home or in the workplace also increases the risk of lung cancer.
Globally, an estimated 165 000 children die before the age of five due to lower respiratory infections caused by second-hand smoke.
“Those who live on into adulthood continue to suffer the health consequences of second-hand smoke exposure, as frequent lower respiratory infections in early childhood significantly increase the risk of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in adulthood," Muinjangue warned.
In Namibia, it is estimated that tobacco consumption among adults (aged 15–49) is 20.1% among men and 5.1% for women. Among youth (aged 13–15), 31.1% use tobacco products (boys 31.9% and girls 29.9%). Second-hand smoke exposure in Namibia among youth (13–15) is at 49.9% in public places and 38.1% at home.
"Overall, every year there are over 1 000 smoking-related deaths, even though fewer men and women die on average in Namibia. In other low- and middle-income countries, about 13 men and six women die from smoking-related causes weekly,” Muinjangue said.
Roadmap discussion
Dr William Maina, coordinator of tobacco control for WHO-Afro, added that the World Health Organisation (WHO) will support Namibia over the next four years in policy adoption and implementation, capacity building and enforcement support for tobacco control regulations.
The objectives of the workshop, which concludes on Friday, are to propose and recommend ways to strengthen the Namibia Tobacco Products Control Act 1/2010 by addressing its gaps. This includes sharing global and regional best practices in tobacco control, especially concerning new and emerging nicotine and tobacco products, to inform legal reforms. Additionally, a roadmap will be developed to finalise the proposed amendments and outline the requirements for their adoption and implementation.
The expected outcomes include identifying gaps in the law, preparing draft textual proposals for amendments and agreeing on recommendations, action points or a roadmap.
Last month, Namibia observed World No Tobacco Day themed 'Protecting Children from Tobacco Industry Interference'.
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