Cigarette packs in the UAE will be required to have a graphic picture showing the ill effects of smoking, starting in August.
The cabinet has approved the decision, and five photos were selected out of 10 World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations, said Wedad Al Maidoor, the head of the tobacco control committee at the Ministry of Health.
"Cigarette packs now are nicely labelled and attractive, which is far from the truth in terms of what it does to your health," Dr Al Maidoor said. "But with this new requirement, there will be a big picture of reality that users cannot avoid."
The images will appear first on cigarette packs, and then on all tobacco products, including shisha tobacco. The news coincides with Dubai's move to double the price of cigarettes through taxation, also slated to begin in August.
The GCC Standardization Organization has also approved the images, and implementation is expected across the region.
"We're even thinking of partnering with the municipalities to require cafes that serve shisha to distribute the images," Dr Al Maidoor said. "They would attach the photo to the apparatus whenever a customer orders a shisha."
The WHO's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control calls for large, clear health warnings "that may be in the form of a picture" and cover between 30 and 50 per cent of the pack.
Several studies have proven the positive results such warnings have on cigarette consumption, Dr Al Maidoor said.
A 2004 study of 616 smokers by the University of Waterloo in Canada, a country where picture warnings are mandated, demonstrated this. Approximately one fifth of participants in the study reported smoking less as a result of the labels. Participants reported negative emotional responses to the warnings including fear (44 per cent) and disgust (58 per cent), and the smokers who reported greater negative emotions were more likely to have quit, attempted to quit or reduced their smoking three months later.
Dr Nooshin Bazargani, head of cardiovascular disease prevention at the Emirates Cardiac Society, welcomed the move.
"This and the taxation are an important step forward, but they cannot work alone," she said. "It should be combined with other efforts, including banning the advertising of tobacco on all forms of public media. This would really make a difference."
Meanwhile a law calling for a federal tax on tobacco, which was proposed in 2010, is still awaiting cabinet approval.
"It's a long process for the country to put something like this into place," Dr Al Maidoor said. "At the time we proposed the tax, we were going through a financial crisis, and this could have also played a role."
Last year, revenue from customs duty on tobacco products was about Dh13 billion, and a federal tax would likely double this amount, Dr Al Maidoor said.
Currently, the customs duty on tobacco products is 100 per cent of their import value, but this accounts for only 28 to 30 per cent of the retail price. A federal tax would increase this by a similar amount.
"Yes, that is minimal, but it will at least give us a foundation to build on," Dr Al Maidoor said. "Once the regulation is in place, it will be much easier for us to increase it in the future."
A portion of the revenue would be used towards anti-tobacco awareness and the treatment of chronic smoking-related diseases.
Smokers say that while they are not looking forward to the move, they understand it is in the best interest of public health.
"Sure, it's not great that we're going to have to pay more, but it's for a better cause," said Ahmad Taleb, 25. "Even those who do buy cigarettes will be reluctant to share it with others. I would feel much better if I knew my younger brother would find it difficult to get his hands on a cigarette."
Others say the country still has a long way to go.
"It won't make me smoke any less," said Mohammed Masri, a Palestinian flight attendant based in Dubai.
"I have always bought cigarettes in Europe, where it costs about €10 [Dh48]. Another Dh5 is nothing."
mismail@thenational.ae
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
A Prayer Before Dawn
Director: Jean-Stephane Sauvaire
Starring: Joe Cole, Somluck Kamsing, Panya Yimmumphai
Three stars
THE SPECS
Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine
Power: 420kW
Torque: 780Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh1,350,000
On sale: Available for preorder now
Brief scores:
Juventus 3
Dybala 6', Bonucci 17', Ronaldo 63'
Frosinone 0
A State of Passion
Directors: Carol Mansour and Muna Khalidi
Stars: Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah
Rating: 4/5
World Cricket League Division 2
In Windhoek, Namibia - Top two teams qualify for the World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe, which starts on March 4.
UAE fixtures
Thursday February 8, v Kenya; Friday February 9, v Canada; Sunday February 11, v Nepal; Monday February 12, v Oman; Wednesday February 14, v Namibia; Thursday February 15, final
Hydrogen: Market potential
Hydrogen has an estimated $11 trillion market potential, according to Bank of America Securities and is expected to generate $2.5tn in direct revenues and $11tn of indirect infrastructure by 2050 as its production increases six-fold.
"We believe we are reaching the point of harnessing the element that comprises 90 per cent of the universe, effectively and economically,” the bank said in a recent report.
Falling costs of renewable energy and electrolysers used in green hydrogen production is one of the main catalysts for the increasingly bullish sentiment over the element.
The cost of electrolysers used in green hydrogen production has halved over the last five years and will fall to 60 to 90 per cent by the end of the decade, acceding to Haim Israel, equity strategist at Merrill Lynch. A global focus on decarbonisation and sustainability is also a big driver in its development.
The stats
Ship name: MSC Bellissima
Ship class: Meraviglia Class
Delivery date: February 27, 2019
Gross tonnage: 171,598 GT
Passenger capacity: 5,686
Crew members: 1,536
Number of cabins: 2,217
Length: 315.3 metres
Maximum speed: 22.7 knots (42kph)
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh132,000 (Countryman)
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Tightening the screw on rogue recruiters
The UAE overhauled the procedure to recruit housemaids and domestic workers with a law in 2017 to protect low-income labour from being exploited.
Only recruitment companies authorised by the government are permitted as part of Tadbeer, a network of labour ministry-regulated centres.
A contract must be drawn up for domestic workers, the wages and job offer clearly stating the nature of work.
The contract stating the wages, work entailed and accommodation must be sent to the employee in their home country before they depart for the UAE.
The contract will be signed by the employer and employee when the domestic worker arrives in the UAE.
Only recruitment agencies registered with the ministry can undertake recruitment and employment applications for domestic workers.
Penalties for illegal recruitment in the UAE include fines of up to Dh100,000 and imprisonment
But agents not authorised by the government sidestep the law by illegally getting women into the country on visit visas.
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Four motivational quotes from Alicia's Dubai talk
“The only thing we need is to know that we have faith. Faith and hope in our own dreams. The belief that, when we keep going we’re going to find our way. That’s all we got.”
“Sometimes we try so hard to keep things inside. We try so hard to pretend it’s not really bothering us. In some ways, that hurts us more. You don’t realise how dishonest you are with yourself sometimes, but I realised that if I spoke it, I could let it go.”
“One good thing is to know you’re not the only one going through it. You’re not the only one trying to find your way, trying to find yourself, trying to find amazing energy, trying to find a light. Show all of yourself. Show every nuance. All of your magic. All of your colours. Be true to that. You can be unafraid.”
“It’s time to stop holding back. It’s time to do it on your terms. It’s time to shine in the most unbelievable way. It’s time to let go of negativity and find your tribe, find those people that lift you up, because everybody else is just in your way.”
