Health Minister, Dr Ifereimi Waqainabete

A comprehensive consultation to review the Tobacco Control Regulation is still underway.

Health Minister, Dr Ifereimi Waqainabete told parliament today that there is a need to introduce plain and unbranded packaging of tobacco products.

Dr Waqainabete says there is no time frame given on when the review of the regulation will be completed.

“This is a very comprehensive review, undergone its own revolution and we cannot put a timeline to it because the honorable member has rightfully said that there are stakeholders that need to be consulted.”

Opposition Member, Aseri Radrodro questioned if companies will be compensated for this change to which the Minister clarified that no country in the world has compensated tobacco companies in this regard.

The Australian Government was the first in the world to legislate plain packaging of tobacco packets in 2012 followed by France and the UK in 2017. New Zealand also followed suit.

The review of the Regulation in Fiji started in 2016.