SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 27th March (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Canary Islands Government, represented by the General Directorate of Public Health, has expressed its support for the Comprehensive Tobacco Plan (PIT) presented by the Ministry of Health. However, they emphasise the importance of ensuring there is a clear financial statement and the implementation of their tax model for tobacco and its derivatives.
In their feedback, which has been accessed by Europa Press, the Canary Islands authorities highlight the necessity for the plan to outline well-defined objectives, actions, and necessary measures, with a suitable timeline and various monitoring indicators in place.
They stress that having a detailed financial breakdown is “crucial” to ensure the feasibility of the proposed measures, with resources appropriately allocated among the autonomous communities, as they are primarily responsible for executing the plan.
The Government suggests that the distribution of resources should be aligned with the specific actions and measures planned for each autonomous community, tailored to meet the individual objectives within each region.
On a fiscal note, the Canary Islands have introduced a model for taxing electronic cigarettes and vaping devices, making it the first autonomous community to impose specific taxes on these products to hinder access by young individuals.
As part of their proposal, all products, both with and without nicotine, inclusive of tobacco derivatives, are included within the definition. They also advocate for the banning of single-use vapes that contain microplastics and non-biodegradable electronic components that pose significant harm to the environment.
With regards to smoke-free areas, the Canary Islands suggest more precise definitions for these spaces, aiming to incorporate them into the new legislation to safeguard against involuntary exposure to cigarette smoke, while imparting a general message on combating tobacco consumption to the public.
ENHANCE REGULATION OF SMOKE-FREE SPACES
They propose extending these smoke-free zones to cover outdoor terraces of bars and restaurants, outdoor sports facilities, bus stop shelters, and the areas around entrances to locations where smoking is prohibited, such as schools, health centres, or hospitals, among others.
Furthermore, the Canary Islands recommend that the PIT should be subject to national regulations to ensure consistent implementation across the country. They also suggest consolidating all legislation related to the plan into a new smoking law.
In terms of the sale of nicotine-releasing electronic device refills, the Government advises applying identical restrictions on packaging, advertising, and sales, irrespective of their nicotine content, viewing them as a potential gateway for youths towards tobacco consumption.
Moreover, regarding the plain packaging of tobacco and its derivatives, they call for updated insights from countries where this measure has been enforced, like the UK or Australia. They also seek data on any recent studies regarding the reduction in consumption among smokers who struggle to adopt alternate cessation methods.
