烟草在线据《星报》报道编译　　马来西亚政府被敦促将每包20支装卷烟的最低价格从当前的7林吉特提高至20林吉特。

　　政府还被要求迫使卷烟生产商和进口商把卷烟的尼古丁和焦油含量从当前的每支1.5毫克到20毫克减少至1毫克到10毫克。

　　这些要求是卫生部最近通过在线参与方式从公众那里收到的部分意见。

　　卫生部征求公众对此事的反馈意见以加强《2004年烟草产品控制规定》中的条款。

　　这是卫生部劝阻人们尤其是年轻人染上吸烟习惯的部分努力。

　　马来西亚政府在今年9月份已把每包20支装卷烟的最低价格提高至7林吉特。一包20支装卷烟目前的零售价格为8.7林吉特至10.6林吉特。

　　一些意见反馈者要求把卷烟最低价格提高至近3倍，他们觉得当前的价格对年轻人来说不是障碍。

　　一些人请求卫生部要求雪茄、方头雪茄和水烟等生产商和进口商在他们的产品上印制吸烟副作用的图片。

　　目前，只有卷烟生产商被要求这样做。

　　他们还希望卫生部规定所有的烟草公司和相关产品的进口商把吸烟负面影响的图片面积从当前占烟盒面积的40%增加至70%。

　　其他建议包括禁止在酒吧、迪斯科、夜总会、赌场、酒店大厅和没有空调设备的餐饮点等地方吸烟。

　　不过，烟草行业在通过在线参与方式的回复中，反对把尼古丁和焦油含量大幅减少的提议，因为这可能对它们的业务产生不利影响。

　　它们表示，如果这项规定立即执行的话，将对合法的烟草行业产生严重影响。

　　烟草行业还表示，如果卫生部要在卷烟盒上增加图片健康警语的面积，它们需要6个月的通知时间。

　　它们还反对卫生部提议的一项计划，即要求卷烟生产商和进口商在每支卷烟上印制“吸烟有害健康”的文字，它们表示，这种做法只会有益于非法卷烟贸易。

Malaysia: Increase Price of Cigs, Govt Urged

　　The Government has been urged to increase the minimum price for a pack of 20s cigarettes to RM20 from the present RM7.

　　It has also been asked to compel manufacturers and importers to reduce the nicotine and tar levels to between 1mg and 10mg from the current levels of between 1.5mg and 20mg per stick.

　　These are among the views received by the Health Ministry from the public via online engagement recently.

　　The ministry had solicited public feedback on the matter to strengthen provisions in the Control of Tobacco Product Regulations 2004.

　　This is part of the ministry's efforts to discourage the people, particularly the young, from picking up the habit.

　　The Government had increased the minimum price for a pack of 20s to RM7 in September. A pack of 20s now retails at between RM8.70 and RM10.60.

　　Some respondents had asked for an almost triple increase in the minimum price as they felt the present price was not a deterrent for the young.

　　Some have also asked the ministry to require cigar, cheroot and shisha makers and importers to imprint pictures of the ill-effects of smoking on their products.

　　At present, only cigarette manufacturers are required to do so.

　　They also want the ministry to impose a ruling for all tobacco companies and importers of related products to increase the size of such graphic from the present 40% to 70%.

　　Other suggestions include banning smoking in pubs, discos, night clubs, casinos, hotel lobbies and non-air-conditioned eating outlets.

　　The tobacco industry in its response through the online engagement however opposed the proposal to have the nicotine and tar levels reduced drastically as this could adversely affect business.

　　They said if the ruling was immediately enforced, it could have a severe impact on the legal tobacco industry.

　　The industry said they would also need a six-month notice if the ministry wished to increase the pictorial health warning size on cigarette packs.

　　They are also against a proposed plan by the ministry to require manufacturers and importers to print the words "Smoking is Hazardous to Health" on every cigarette stick saying this would only benefit the illegal cigarette trade. Enditem