The Presidency Decree, which came from the Ministry of Industry, provides modifications to articles 7, 8 and 10 of Decree No. 120, of April 2019 (relating to the neutral or generic packaging and labeling of all tobacco and cigarette products) of the former president, Tabaré Vázquez.
The modifications proposed by the current government establish: the introduction of the “soft box”, which would allow the industry to compete more effectively with contraband cigarettes; identification is allowed on the cigarette, in order to assure the buyer of the authenticity of the brand, and companies may include a logo on the filter; and sanctions are established for merchants who sell contraband cigarettes, who may be sentenced to six months of effective prison.
The health of the population is above the interests of the industry
As a result of the recent decree, the FA deputy and former Undersecretary of Health, during the government of Tabaré Vázquez, Cristina Lustemberg, expressed her “concern and alarm”, due to the resolutions adopted by the Executive Power regarding the regulations that refer to the tobacco industry and the flexibility of current regulations.
He said that the decree generates a “clear setback”, with respect to Uruguay’s anti-smoking policy, since the signing of the Framework Agreement in 2004 on Tobacco Control and all the policies implemented subsequently.
He reflected that it affects the health of Uruguayans. “Health must prevail over pressure from economic interests.”
“It seems like a decree prepared by the tobacco industries, because it is a claim made by the members of said industry,” he lamented. In effect, representatives of Montepaz have made proposals in this regard before the respective commissions of Parliament.
The legislator pointed out that pressures from business groups exist, and stressed that, despite this, Uruguay has been an example worldwide, by winning an international trial.
In this framework, in the last few hours it transpired, according to data from the Electoral Court, that the Montepaz Tobacco Company SA collaborated with more than 550 thousand pesos in the electoral campaign of Luis Lacalle Pou, and that the National Party was the only political group who received your monetary contribution.
As reported by Sudestada, the link between Montepaz and Herrerismo, “is long-standing.” In this sense, the publication recalls that Montepaz’s legal adviser, Eduardo Mezzera, was Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs during the government of Luis Alberto Lacalle Herrera (1990-1995), alternate senator in the period 2010-2015, and entered the Chamber on several occasions. Likewise, Mezzera was legal adviser to the Ministry of Industry, Energy and Mining for 16 years.
unconsulted decree
On the other hand, Lustemberg expressed that he did not share the government’s argument that it is a measure to combat smuggling.
“These resolutions are not based on scientific evidence and were made without consultation”, by the Ministry of Industry. “It strikes us that the Ministry of Public Health has not convened areas such as: the Tobacco Control Advisory Commission, or the Illicit Trade Eradication Protocol Commission, which also depends on the MSP,” Lustemberg questioned.
The Frente Amplio legislator denounced that a “setback” is also generated by enabling, from another Presidential Decree, the importation of heated tobacco products, which has clear harmful effects on the health of the population.
Lustemberg questioned the government’s decision before the Deputies Health Commission, and the FA does not rule out taking political action.
