Farmers Encouraged to Replace Tobacco Crops in Laos
Health officials in Laos have asked the government to encourage farmers to grow other crops as alternatives to growing tobacco.
Deputy Minister of Health, Dr. Sanong Thongsana, has provided answers to questions by National Assembly members on Friday regarding the amendment of the draft law on tobacco control, according to KPL.
The country’s tobacco control policy, which is outlined in Article 4, encourages farmers to grow other crops to replace tobacco.
Deputy Minister Sanong Thongsana said that despite the tobacco control law, it has not issued a tobacco production restriction.
“As a member of the WTO, Laos has ratified the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) which compels each party to support its farmers in growing alternative crops, although it does not outright prohibit tobacco use,” said Dr. Sanong Thongsana.
Phayboune Thanabouasy
