For the first time, an organization has been fined for failing to display "no smoking" signs.
Nationwide, for the first time, an organization has been fined by an inter-agency inspection team for failing to display "no smoking" signs in designated no-smoking areas.
On the morning of January 16th, the Nghe An Department of Health held a summary meeting for the project "Enhancing provincial-level coordination capacity in monitoring and enforcing the Law on Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harm for a smoke-free Vietnam" and shared lessons learned in the work of preventing and controlling tobacco harm in Nghe An province.
Attending the closing ceremony were representatives from provincial departments and agencies; the People's Committee of Vinh City and its wards and communes; the Center for Health and Population Initiatives; and the Nghe An Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
With the permission of the Nghe An Department of Health, from October 2023 to January 2025, the Nghe An Center for Disease Control and Prevention, in collaboration with the Center for Health and Population Initiatives, implemented the project "Enhancing provincial-level coordination capacity in monitoring and enforcing the Law on Prevention and Control of Harmful Effects of Drugs".cigaretteFor a smoke-free Vietnam."
The project was implemented to strengthen the enforcement of the Law on Prevention and Control of Harmful Effects of Drugs.cigaretteThrough creating a favorable policy environment and mobilizing community participation in monitoring the implementation of this law, the aim is to improve compliance with the Law on Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harm.
The project has carried out many practical and effective activities such as: surveying compliance with the Law on Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harm and smoke-free environments; developing a plan for preventing and controlling tobacco harm; training inspectors on preventing and controlling tobacco harm; conducting inter-agency inspections on preventing and controlling tobacco harm; supporting the Vinh City People's Committee in implementing smoke-free environments...
As part of an inter-agency inspection campaign to prevent and control the harmful effects of tobacco, from November 25th to December 3rd, 2024, an inspection team established by the Department of Health (with the participation of officials from the Department of Health, Vinh City Police, and the Department of Culture and Sports) conducted inspections at 12 restaurants and hotels in Vinh City.
The inspection team conducted an inspection and recommended that the authorities penalize one establishment for violating the Law on Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harm, namely Dai Duong Restaurant, located at 68 Le Nin Avenue... It is known that this is the first time nationwide that an establishment has been penalized for not displaying "no smoking" signs in designated no-smoking areas.
At the closing ceremony, the delegates presented papers and shared lessons learned in the work of preventing and combating the harmful effects of tobacco in Nghe An province.
According to information from the Nghe An Department of Health, building on the success of the project, in 2025, the Department of Health will continue to coordinate with the Vinh City People's Committee to implement the creation of smoke-free environments at the headquarters of the People's Committees of 33 wards and communes; and coordinate with other sectors to strengthen inspection and handling of violations.
The Center for Health and Population Initiatives honored individuals from the inter-agency inspection team who performed their duties well, contributing to strengthening the enforcement of the Law on Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harm for a smoke-free Vietnam.
