During the “petitions and formulations” chapter of the ordinary session of the Senate, Patrick Kemper, senator from Hagamos, requested the postponement of point 5. This is message number 126 from the Executive Branch, via the Ministry of Foreign Relations, by which refers to the “protocol for the elimination of illicit trade in tobacco products.”
As arguments, he pointed out that last week a senator requested a public hearing to debate the issue, but due to the large number of end-of-year activities they were unable to hold it.
“Then we went to a meeting within the industry and tourism commission where different representatives from health, industry and business associations were present. We were among nine people, but a colleague had health problems so we suspended the meeting, “he explained.
The legislator pointed out that the document does not have an opinion either. In all, some 27 legislators voted to postpone it sine die (no date set).
The senators who voted for the postponement were; Óscar “Cachito” Salomón, Enrique Riera, Antonio Barrios, Carlos Vidal Zena, Ramón Retamozo, Zulma Gómez, Esperanza Martínez, Carlos Filizzola, Enrique Bacchetta, Hermelinda Alvarenga, Fidel Zavala, Blanca Ovelar, Jorge Querey, “Tony” Apuril, Fernando Silva Facetti, Eusebio Ayala, Derlis Osorio, Bartolomé “Ancho” Ramírez, Blas Lanzoni, Hugo Richer, Fulgencio Rodríguez, Patrick Kemper, Fernando Lugo, Sergio Godoy, Rodolfo Friedmann, Abel González and Salyn Buzarquis.
When asked why he voted to postpone the study, Buzarquis mentioned that they did not have the votes for its approval and it was most likely that it would be rejected if it was treated.
“It was suspended because there were no votes. We must make a strong campaign of the Ministry of Health and citizenship, that is the key, “he said.
TABESA
According to newspaper reports, José Ortiz, president of Tabacalera del Este SA, visited all the banks seeking the rejection of the initiative.
In contact with various media, he mentioned earlier this month that the approval of the protocol will only strengthen the illegal market, as it will lead to the creation of clandestine factories.
CONTEXT
On December 12, 2018, the Executive delivered to Parliament the “protocol for the elimination of illicit trade in tobacco products”, adopted in Seoul, Republic of Korea, on November 12, 2012.
This protocol complements the World Health Organization (WHO) Convention for tobacco control adopted in Geneva on May 21, 2003, approved in Paraguay on August 10, 2006.
The purpose of this agreement is to protect present and future generations against the devastating health, social, environmental and economic consequences of tobacco consumption and exposure to tobacco smoke, providing a framework for the control measures to be applied by the parties at the national, regional or international level in order to continuously and substantially reduce the prevalence of tobacco use and exposure to tobacco smoke.
