KATHMANDU, Jan 19: A recent study has found that the influence of the tobacco industry in Nepal has limited the enforcement of tobacco control laws for years. The report, released by the Health Rights and Tobacco Control Network, highlights weak implementation of the Tobacco Product Control and Regulation Act, 2068, raising concerns about public health in Nepal.
Delays in enacting the law and poor enforcement have allowed the tobacco industry to wield significant influence, the study notes. “Even though Nepal signed the international tobacco control treaty early on, the current enforcement situation has not allowed meaningful steps,” said Shantalal Mulmi, coordinator of the network. “It took four years for the law to pass from parliament, and implementation is still incomplete.”
The “Governance on Tobacco Control” study, covering 100 countries, gave Nepal a score of 43, placing it among nations with high tobacco industry influence. Countries with minimal interference include Brunei, while nations like the Dominican Republic, Switzerland, and the United States show the highest levels of industry influence.
Selling of cigarettes, tobacco products from separate shops fro...
The report cites factors such as non-disclosure of industry production and marketing expenses, lack of monitoring by the Inland Revenue Department, and the lowest tobacco taxes among South Asian nations as evidence of industry influence.
Although Section 4 of the Tobacco Control Act prohibits smoking in public places, violations continue to rise, indicating the government’s susceptibility to industry influence. Section 11, which bans sales to individuals under 18, is also routinely breached. Among 753 municipalities, only a few have effectively enforced tobacco control, while many still allow hotels and restaurants to sell tobacco alongside tea, with misleading promotion that “tea’s companion is cigarettes.”
The report further points to industry influence in delaying the legislative process and slow treaty implementation, despite Nepal being one of the first ten countries to sign the international tobacco control treaty in 2003. Industry presence in government meetings, influencing film directors to depict smoking, and involving stakeholders in policymaking are cited as additional signs of control.
Taxation also reflects the industry’s sway, with domestic tobacco subject to manipulated excise schemes and inconsistent enforcement of health risk taxes. Corporate social responsibility activities by the industry, such as school donations, NGO support, and ambulance purchases, are also used for promotion, violating the law.
Currently, 33 percent of Nepali citizens use tobacco products, and 98 percent are aware of its harmful effects, the study report states. According to Mulmi, tobacco use causes 27,137 deaths annually and contributes to poverty among affected populations.
