27 January

Experts were briefed, along with Hluttaw representatives, about taxation of Myanmar’s Virginia leaves tobacco products in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday.

The briefing was opened with remarks delivered by Director of the Food and Drug Administration Prof. Dr. Khin Zaw, Chairman of the Pyithu Hluttaw Health Sports Affairs Committee Dr. San Shwe Win and Representative of the World Health Organization Ms. Alaka Singh.

Speaking at the ceremony, Prof. Dr Khin Zaw said increasing taxes is an effective strategy to reduce the consumption of tobacco and Virginia-based products by the public, noting that 62 per cent of men and 24 per cent of woman in Myanmar consume tobacco when chewing betel quids.
He also pointed out that consumption of tobacco and Virginia leaves-based products is a preventable problem which leads to some 7 million deaths every year throughout the world.

The number of tobacco related cancer patients is predicted to reach 22 million within 20 years, increasing from 14 million in 2012, according to the world Health Organization.

Also, Dr. San Shwe Win said in his remarks that the burden from non-communicable diseases is becoming heavier, pointing out that over half of all deaths are due to non-communicable diseases.

He further noted that Myanmar enacted a law to reduce the consumption of tobacco, and the country achieved success in the drive, to some extent.
At the meeting, experts and MPs discussed the weak and strong points of increasing taxes on tobacco products, seeking ways to overcome possible challenges from the taxation, along with expectations from the departments concerned.—Kyaw Maw (Translated by Zaw Min)