Directive No. 02/2005/CT-BGTVT on Strengthening Work to Prevent and Combat the Harmful Effects of Tobacco in the Transport Industry

DIRECTIVE

Regarding Strengthening Efforts to Prevent and Control the Harmful Effects of Tobacco

in the Transportation Industry

Smoking tobacco is the cause of many dangerous diseases for humans, particularly lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, myocardial infarction, atherosclerosis, and other illnesses.

According to the World Health Organization's recommendations, approximately 4.9 million people die each year from diseases related to tobacco. If the current smoking situation is not curbed, it is estimated that about 10 million people will die annually due to tobacco-related diseases between the years 2020 and 2030, with approximately 7 million deaths occurring in developing countries.

The rate of smoking among workers in transportation-related professions remains high. According to a national health survey conducted in 2001-2002 on smoking habits among 8,631 smokers working in twelve occupational groups, the smoking rate among male drivers was 70%, ranking fourth highest among all occupations.

Smoking not only harms the smoker but also affects non-smokers who inhale secondhand smoke. Recent medical surveys show that individuals frequently exposed to secondhand smoke have a 26% higher risk of developing lung cancer compared to those who are not exposed, and children living in environments with secondhand smoke often suffer from respiratory illnesses such as sore throat, pneumonia, asthma, and are more likely to develop heart disease when they grow up.

In addition to health risks, smoking degrades public civility in communal and workplace settings, wastes labor time, increases the risk of workplace and traffic accidents while working or operating vehicles, causes significant economic losses for individuals, families, and society, impacts the environment, and raises the risk of fire incidents.

To reduce the damage caused by smoking, on August 14, 2000, the Government issued Resolution No. 12/2000/NQ-CP on the "National Policy to Prevent and Control the Harmful Effects of Tobacco" for the period 2000-2010, with the general goal of reducing demand, towards controlling and decreasing the supply of tobacco products to lower the incidence and mortality rates from tobacco-related diseases.

Implementing the Government's Resolution, to avoid the damages caused by tobacco, the Minister of Transport requests agencies, organizations, and individuals within the transportation industry and related entities to immediately carry out the following tasks:

1. Organize information dissemination and propaganda regarding the harmful effects of tobacco for all subjects under the management of agencies and organizations.

2. Prohibit smoking in the following places:

a) In offices, reception rooms, meeting rooms, and areas where large numbers of people gather within agencies and organizations;

b) In waiting rooms at train stations, bus terminals, airports, and ports;

c) On public transportation vehicles;

d) At other gatherings and places where large numbers of people congregate.

3. Post signs reading "PROHIBITED FROM SMOKING" or circular signs with a white background and red border, featuring a burning cigarette crossed by a red diagonal line, in locations where smoking is prohibited.

4. Designate smoking areas at agency and organization headquarters, train stations, bus terminals, airports, and ports. These smoking areas must be completely separated from non-smoking areas and must be well-ventilated.

5. Prohibit organizations and individuals from marketing, advertising, and selling tobacco products within agency and organizational premises; in train stations, bus terminals, airports, and ports (except duty-free shops); and on public transportation vehicles. Agencies and organizations shall not purchase tobacco products in any form and shall not accept sponsorship from tobacco companies for cultural, sports, and other activities.

6. Encourage civil servants, employees, and workers in the transportation industry to take responsibility for persuading family members, friends, and colleagues to refrain from smoking, and to encourage current smokers to reduce and eventually quit smoking to protect their own health and that of those around them.

7. The Department of Health of the Ministry of Transport shall be responsible for coordinating education and propaganda efforts to implement the prohibition on smoking in the designated locations as stipulated in Clause 2 of this Directive.

8. Traffic inspection forces, Directors of maritime, air, and inland waterway port authorities shall strictly enforce administrative penalties against violations of the smoking prohibition according to the provisions of the law.

9. The Ministry's Office shall be responsible for organizing the implementation of this Directive at the Ministry of Transport's headquarters.

10. Every six months and annually, agencies and organizations within the transportation industry must report to the Ministry of Transport (through the Ministry's Office) on the implementation of this Directive within their respective jurisdictions. The Ministry's Office shall be responsible for monitoring, compiling, urging, inspecting, and reporting to the Minister on the implementation of the Directive.

It is required that heads of agencies, organizations, and individuals within the transportation industry and related entities strictly implement this Directive.