Journal Article Details
Welcome to Tobacco Control and Research Cell (TCRC), DIU.
Standard packaging to ensure effective enforcement of graphical health warning on smokeless tobacco products: Current status and gaps in Bangladesh
Introduction: Among adults aged 15 years and above, the consumption rate of Smokeless Tobacco products is 20.6% or 22 million that higher than smoking (18.0% or 19.2 million) in Bangladesh (GATS 2017). Graphical Health Warnings (GHW) on both sides of all tobacco products covering 50% or more surface area imposed from 19th March 2016 as per amendment of the Smoking and Tobacco Products Uses (Control) Act 2005 in 2013 and its Rules in 2015. This law made mandatory to write “approved for selling only in Bangladesh” should also be written in all tobacco packs.
Objectives: To identify the gaps on enforcement GHWs (section 10 of tobacco control law) in the most common SLT products; zarda/smashed tobacco with betel leaf and gul/tobacco powder in lower gum.
Methods: Tobacco Control and Research Cell (TCRC) of the Dhaka International University conducted survey from October 2018 to September 2019. Packets of smokeless tobacco products collected from 295 wholesale shops situated in the 131 bazaars (market area) in the 32 district towns. These 295 wholesale shops distributed/sale SLT products in all other local and small shops of these districts.