Cigarette advertising banned in Vietnam
All forms of cigarette advertising will be totally banned, according to a recently issued circular of the Ministry of Culture and Information (MCI).
The MCI organised a press conference on July 7 introducing regulations of circular 7, guiding the implementation of Advertisement Ordinance and Resolution 12 by the Government on banning cigarette advertisement.
Under the circular, advertisement of cigarettes will be banned in any form, including the usage of all or part of names or trademarks of cigarettes for other non-cigarette related products.
For example, Dunhill is famous for its cigarettes; therefore, when advertising other products of Dunhill, it must be clearly defined as “Dunhill fine arts” or “Dunhill leather products” instead of the general “Dunhill products”.
The Ordinance on Advertisement will not only have a great impact on cigarette manufacturers but also on cigarette distributors.
Under the circular, a cigarette shop or kiosk is allowed to display no more than one cigarette package (20 cigarettes) or carton of cigarettes (200 cigarettes) of one label.
Up until now, the highest fine applied for any violation has been VND30 million, however the Head of the Legal Department of MCI said that the ministry proposes a raise in the maximum fine to VND7-80 million.
Thanh Nien - July 11, 2005.
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