Nagaland empowered committee deliberates vendor licensing of tobacco products

KOHIMA — Resonating Nagaland’s commitment towards robust tobacco control and protection of public health, the Empowered Committee for the implementation of the WHO FCTC Article 5.3 policy, deliberated on vendor licensing of tobacco products in the state.

The inaugural executive meeting of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) was held at the Nagaland Civil Secretariat in Kohima on Thursday, under the chairmanship of Commissioner and Secretary of Health and Family Welfare, V Kezo, who is also the chairman of the empowered committee.

According to the Health department, the programme was initiated to counteract the undue influence of the tobacco industry and safeguard the well-being of Nagaland’s young population.

During the meeting on Thursday, representatives from various departments engaged in extensive discussion regarding the introduction and implementation of the code of conduct.

It may be mentioned that the government officially constituted the empowered committee in June this year with a primary objective to create a protective shield against the tobacco industry’s exploitation of the state’s vulnerable youth, as mandated by the WHO FCTC Article 5.3.

To ensure effective implementation of these principles, the panel adopted a comprehensive code of conduct and protocol, and this code applies to all government officials and representatives of Nagaland, outlining the guidelines for its interactions with the tobacco industry.

It strictly defines permissible and impermissible engagements, which include forming partnerships or receiving contributions from tobacco companies. The code also establishes mechanisms to prevent conflicts of interest and outlines procedures for reporting any violations.

India’s commitment to the WHO FCTC treaty, especially Article 5.3, which necessitates vigilance against the tobacco industry’s efforts to undermine tobacco control, forms the foundation of this policy. The policy encourages limited interactions with the tobacco industry, only when it is strictly necessary for effective regulation.

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