Update: 11.46am RECENT population-based studies have shown a decrease in smoking prevalence in several age groups in Fiji.
Fiji's Interim Minister for Health Dr Jona Senilagakali made the revelation at discussions on Tobacco Control on the third day of the 58th Session of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Committee Meeting in Jeju, Korea.
And despite concerns with issues such as tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship; and the increase in illicit trade of tobacco products, the Ministry of Health remained committed to control efforts on tobacco use as exemplified by both, the apportioning of the tobacco tax collected to the Ministry of Health for Health Promotion since 2002, and the establishment of a Tobacco Law Enforcement Unit with a dedicated budget line in 2004.
Dr Senilagakali said Fiji was proud of its status in the world today as far as its achievements on a WHO initiative on tobacco control.
''Fiji will continue to be proud of its position as the third country in the world and first developing country to adopt the World Health Organisation (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC),'' he said.
Fiji's Tobacco Control Act was formulated in 1998 and enacted in 2000 well before the FCTC in 2004.
''The primary role of the Tobacco Law Enforcement Unit is of course, the enforcement of our Tobacco Control Act, including the various articles of FCTC that are already in sync with our legislation,'' Dr Senilagakali added.
''Indeed since early 2006, the review of the Tobacco Act has been ongoing so as to incorporate any additional provision contained in the FCTC that are currently lacking in our legislation.''
