An initiative group consisting of representatives of a number of NGOs demand immediately adopting the package of anti-tobacco laws in the final reading. The request was formulated within the campaign “Countdown to the fulfillment of the Government’s promises: Returning to the seven priorities” that was launched in a news conference at IPN.
Deputy head of the National NGO Council Ghenadie Turcanu said that on May 30, 2013 the government pledged to approve the legislation on tobacco control. This may not happen as the tobacco industry, which is the greatest opponent of these regulations, finds lobby among ministers and lawmakers who propose amendments that do not improve the law. On the contrary, the amendments make an exception in favor of those from the tobacco industry, which is leave a window open for them.
According to Turcanu, in the election campaign of 2010, a political party that is now in power pledged to reduce the number of smokers and the use of alcohol. However, after four years of government, representatives of this party trenchantly say that the tobacco control rules should not be toughened up.
In 2007, Moldova ratified the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, but has so far taken no measures to reduce tobacco use. Moldova has no law on tobacco control. The young people, children and women continue to be exposed and attracted to the ranks of those who smoke by advertisements and other mechanisms.
Recently, Moldova’s President registered in Parliament a bill to ratify a financing agreement by which the World Bank provides US$30 million for modernizing Moldova’s health sector. The first condition imposed by the World Bank is to reduce the use of tobacco. In this connection, Ghenadie Turcanu said that this accord is another reason for which the government must hasten the adoption of the mentioned package of laws.
The head of the National Participation Council Sergiu Ostaf said the passing of this bill is delayed because of the ambiguities invoked by the Parliament’s commission on economy, budget and finance. “We demand that the bill be passed now and that the recommendations be taken into account. We will attentively analyze the positions of every party,” he stated.
The package of laws on tobacco control was adopted in the first reading on July 18. About 5,600 people die annually in Moldova because of diseases caused by with smoking.
The campaign “Countdown to the fulfillment of the Government’s promises: Returning to the seven priorities” was launched by the National Participation Council, the Civic Coalition for Free and Fair Elections, the Anticorruption Alliance, and the Civic Initiative for Integrity in the Public Service.
