Jamaican Parliament to debate tobacco control bill

The much-anticipated Tobacco Control Bill will soon be debated in both the Lower and Upper Houses of the Jamaican Parliament, Health and Wellness Minister Dr. Christopher Tufton has announced.[1]However, according to the Heart Foundation of Jamaica, the country remains heavily affected by the tobacco and vaping epidemic and suffers from strong tobacco industry lobbying. This impacts health policies, which it says are poorly implemented and ineffective.

A highly anticipated and debated bill

Dr. Tufton emphasized that the discussions among the members of the Special Joint Committee took considerable time, but deliberately, in order to reach a consensus.

In an interview with JIS News, the minister expressed hope that the parliamentary debates would proceed smoothly. He also stressed the importance of a broad public information campaign, explaining that " It is a comprehensive legislation, which introduces many changes. ".

He detailed the extent of the new measures: “ Many new rules and provisions will be introduced. It is essential that citizens are informed about them. The text covers elements such as e-cigarettes, which were not previously regulated. It also addresses issues such as advertising… it is quite comprehensive. I therefore do not regret the time taken, because we wanted it to be done well, in a spirit of collective participation. ".

According to 2021-2022 figures from Tobacco Atlas, Jamaica has an estimated 15.8% male smokers and 3.5% female smokers among those over 15, and smoking is responsible for a total of 5.2% of national deaths. A 2017 survey also revealed that e-cigarette use (11.7%) exceeds that of conventional cigarettes (11.2%) among youth.

New legislation to protect public health

The minister said the legislation aims to severely restrict smoking and protect non-smokers, including by banning tobacco advertising. Smoking ultimately leads to death. Other things can be dangerous, of course, but inhaling smoke is a proven threat, as studies show. This project therefore aims to eliminate, reduce, and ideally completely prevent the harms of tobacco for users and those around them. " said Dr. Tufton.

Beyond its domestic impact, the bill is also critical to enabling Jamaica to meet its international commitments under the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) treaty, ratified on July 7, 2005. These commitments could not be met under the 2013 regulations.

Key provisions of the new legislation include banning the use of nicotine products, such as e-cigarettes, in public places, encouraging people to quit, and reducing smoking nationwide.

Finally, the text aims to send a clear message to the public about the harmful health, environmental, economic and social consequences of the use of tobacco and nicotine products.

Health experts expect the country to adopt a more ambitious anti-smoking policy

This is not the first time the Jamaican government has expressed concern about the tobacco epidemic, but the proposed measures appear to lack effectiveness or political will.

In Jamaica, the tobacco industry operates without major restrictions. Tobacco products are widely promoted, whether online, in the press, in stores, or even in pharmacies, where disposable e-cigarettes are freely available. They are sold to everyone " explains Deborah Chen, director of the Heart Foundation of Jamaica[2]. Thus, wanting to limit the promotion and sale of tobacco products to minors, as proposed in the new bill, seems to be a measure influenced by the tobacco industry itself, which can very easily circumvent the restrictions.

Carreras, a subsidiary of British American Tobacco and a dominant player in the market, also promotes its image by offering student scholarships, a strategy denounced by public health advocates as a covert means of targeting young people. The industry also targets the most disadvantaged, who are more exposed to smoking and less able to bear the costs.

Jamaica has also failed to implement Article 13 of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, which prohibits tobacco advertising and sponsorship.

Additionally, the Tobacco Control Act, proposed in 2020, has stalled, largely due to pressure from the tobacco industry, which has delayed its adoption. Aimed at regulating tobacco and nicotine products, it included plans, for example, to increase the size of graphic health warnings on tobacco products, from 60 to 80 inches of the tobacco product's main display area.

Chen and tobacco control consultant Barbara McGaw say the 2020 law must be passed and strictly enforced to improve public health, reduce health costs, and increase productivity.

Finally, In 2023, Minister Christopher Tufton announced that he wanted to strengthen the fight against tobacco., noting that 70% of deaths in Jamaica were caused by non-communicable diseases. He had sought to minimize Jamaica's interactions with the tobacco industry and had highlighted the environmental cost of the tobacco industry, whether in deforestation, water consumption, depletion of arable land or CO emissions.².

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[1]Clark Joanne, Tobacco Control Bill nears debate in Jamaican Parliament, Caribbean National Weekly, published June 10, 2025, accessed June 12, 2025

[2]Expose Tobacco, Advocates in Jamaica Demand Comprehensive Tobacco Legislation, published February 21, 2025, accessed June 12, 2025

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