By Parliamentary and Public Relations Department

The Parliament of Sierra Leone yesterday 3rd August, 2022 enacted into law with some amendments the Bill entitled: ‘The Tabacco and Nicotine Act, 2022’, after committing it to the Legislative Committee for further scrutiny.

The Bill seeks to provide for the control and regulation of the production, manufacturing, importation, packaging and labeling, advertising, promotion and sponsorship, sale and use of tobacco, tobacco products and other nicotine products, to provide for the improvement of public health by limiting the health harms caused by the use of, and exposure to, tobacco including nicotine, by reducing demand for tobacco and nicotine products and to provide for the incorporation of Sierra Leone’s obligations under the World Health Organisation Framework Convention in Tobacco Control into domestic Law, to provide for the establishment of the Tabacco and Nicotine Control Secretariat responsible for the implementation of this Act and to provide for the other related matters.

The Deputy Minister of Health and Sanitation Princess Dugba piloted the Bill for its enactment.

Earlier the bill has been debated intensively by Members of Parliament outlining its socioeconomic benefits for the nation.