Cambodia: Tobacco advertising, promotion, and sponsorship will be banned by July 2011

The Sub-Decree on Advertising Ban of Tobacco Products was approved by the Royal Government of Cambodia on February 2011. “This is an achievement of long advocacy efforts of the Ministry of Health, World Health Organization, and a NGO named Cambodia Movement (CMH) for Health” said H.E Thach Phen, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Information to almost all media agencies, including television, radio, newspapers, magazine, and publishing companies. In his presentation to the conference, Dr. Yel Daravuth, National Professional of the WHO’s TFI Cambodia congratulated the government for approving to ban tobacco advertising, promotion, and sponsorship not later than the deadline under the FCTC’s article 13. Dr. Mom Kong, Executive Director of CMH, highlighted various forms for tobacco advertising, promotion, and sponsorship happening in Cambodia currently. “These forms of advertising, promotion and sponsorship shall be banned by July 2011 by the sub-decree” said Dr. Mom Kong. H.E Khiev Kahnarith, the Minister of Information, and H.E Ung Phyrun, Secretary of State of Health, and H,E Touch Chanthy from the Council of Ministers came to the conference to applaud the government for approving the sub-decree and to remind to media agencies to comply with the sub-decree. “You will face punishment if you don’t comply with the sub-decree” said H.E Touch Chanthy.

 According to the sub-decree all forms of tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship will be banned six months after the Prime Minister signed on the document on 24 February 2011.

 -Cambodia Movement for Health (copies of the approved sub-decree available upon request)