The state government has called for implementation of WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) Article 5.3 policy in Nagaland. This was deliberated during at the first executive meeting of the Empowered Committee held at secretariat conference hall of H&FW department, in Kohima on November 2 under the chairmanship of commissioner & secretary (H&FW) V. Kezo and chairman of the Empowered Committee of Nagaland.
In a statement, State NTCP cell, informed that the objective is to ensure that tobacco industry representatives do not interfere with government officials except through the Empowered Committee established for implementation of FCTC Article 5.3 policy in Nagaland.
In June 2023, the state government through an order officially established the Empowered Committee for the implementation of WHO FCTC Article 5.3 policy in the state.
The committee was formed with the primary objective of safeguarding public health policies from the undue influence of the tobacco industry and to counteract any exploitation of the vulnerable young population of the state by the tobacco industry, it said.
To uphold these principles, a comprehensive code of conduct/protocol was adopted. This code applies to all government officials and representatives of Nagaland, outlining the guidelines for interactions with the tobacco industry. It describes the permissible and impermissible engagements, such as forming partnerships or receiving contributions from tobacco companies.
Furthermore, it addresses mechanisms to prevent conflicts of interest and outlines procedures for reporting any violations of the code of conduct. The main aim of this code of conduct is to ensure strict compliance by tobacco industry representatives when engaging with government officials and policy makers, and vice versa.
During the first meeting of the Empowered Committee, the representatives from various stakeholder departments and members of the committee engaged in discussions concerning the introduction and implementation of the code of conduct.
Additionally, they deliberated on the topic of vendor licensing for tobacco products within the state. This proactive approach signifies the state’s commitment to robust tobacco control and public health protection.