In Cameroon, a new law adopted by the National Assembly

On June 22, 2020, 13 days after the opening of the monthly session, three national conventions were ratified by the Head of State during the plenary session, with the approval of the deputies. One of them is related to the tobacco trade.

A protocol to combat the illicit tobacco trade

The protocol for the elimination of illicit trade in tobacco products was thus ratified after the Minister of Commerce, Luc Magloire Mbarga Atangana, answered questions from eight members of parliament. Cameroon had already adopted the anti-tobacco law in 2005, the joint decree of the Ministry of Health and Commerce of June 3, 2017, and the WHO framework law of May 21, 2003.

A significant illicit market

The Minister of Commerce also examined the tobacco market: out of five players present, the national player alone holds 14.% of the market share. Contraband, for its part, represents 20.% of the share. Therefore, Cameroon has a dual interest in combating this illegal market: - financial, since the country will gain significant revenue; - health, by ensuring the health of its consumers.

Towards a traceability system

The PCRN (Cameroonian Party for National Reconciliation) MP spoke and raised the "thorny problem (...) of tobacco industry interference in the control circuit process." She emphasized the critical importance of implementing a traceability system and monitoring tobacco products, as stipulated in Article 8 of the protocol. She recommended "a rigid IT system with clear references to established standards on the labeling that will allow us to know that a given cigarette pack was manufactured in a given country, in a given factory, and even to understand its distribution route to consumers." This should be done regardless of the cost. The MP particularly praised the example of Kenya, which now has an effective traceability system, as well as the actions of Chad. Finally, she encouraged greater use of digital technology, which she considers "a boon for reducing several ills such as corruption."

Impartiality in question

A crucial point, however, is that the tobacco industry must not be able to influence the establishment of this system: it would then be both judge and jury. Article 5.3 of the Convention addresses this issue. It now remains to be seen how it will be implemented.

An increase in tobacco prices

Luc Magloire Mbarga Atangana also stated that "taxation of cigarettes and whiskeys in sachets will be high in order to make them less accessible." The objective is for the price to become a deterrent for consumers and for the entire Cameroonian population, smokers or not, to be better protected. It should be remembered that in Cameroon, 13.9% of men, 4.3% of women and 8.9% of adults in total (1.1 million) currently use tobacco products.[1].

©Generation Without Tobacco

[1] http://www.statistics-cameroon.org/news.php?id=266

Yannick Zanga, “National Assembly: three texts adopted”, www.cameroun-tribune.com, June 23, 2020 https://www.cameroon-tribune.cm/article.html/33212/fr.html/assemblee-nationale-trois-textes-adoptes

NRM, “Parliamentary Activities: The Honorable Rolande Ngo Issi questions the Minister of Commerce”, www.agencecamerounpresse.com, June 23, 2020 https://agencecamerounpresse.com/tribune-libre/activit%C3%A9s-parlementaires-l%E2%80%99honorable-rolande-ngo-issi-interpelle-le-ministre-du-commerce.html

Yannick A. Kenne, “Cameroon - Trade: The State wants to increase the prices of tobacco products to discourage consumers”, www.cameroon-info.net, June 23, 2020 http://www.cameroon-info.net/article/cameroun-commerce-letat-veut-augmenter-les-prix-des-produits-du-tabac-pour-decourager-les-375618.html

Dieudonné Zra, “Towards an increase in the prices of tobacco products”, www.crtv.cm, June 23, 2020 http://www.crtv.cm/2020/06/vers-une-augmentation-des-prix-des-produits-du-tabac/

[i] "Chad says no to Imperial Tobacco's maneuvers" https://www.generationsanstabac.org/actualites/le-tchad-dit-non-aux-manoeuvres-dimperial-tobacco/

©DNF - For a Zero Tobacco World |