“The tobacco Industry Interference Index is an important tool to strengthen tobacco measures according to the WHO FCTC. The Index has helped to identify the gap which the industry uses. We need to close this gap to protect public health.”

Dr Tserendulam Shagdarsuren
Director, Healthy City Network of Mongolia

Background

Smoking prevalence is high in Mongolia with about 44 percent of males and 5% of females smoking. Mongolia ratified the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) in 2004 and over the years adopted several measures to protect public health including pictorial warnings covering 65 percentage of the pack, ban on tobacco advertising and sponsorship and sales of tobacco to those below 21 years. However, the tobacco industry continues to expand its market in Mongolia. More than 150 million packs of cigarettes are sold every year. About 47% are produced domestically and 53% are imported. Main tobacco companies operating in Mongolia are Mongol Tobacco So, KT&G and Imperial Brands. In 2021, Mongolia joined the survey to review the implementation of WHO FCTC Article 5.3 and produced the first Tobacco Industry Interference Index.

Launch of Index

The Healthy City Network (Network) released Mongolia’s Tobacco Industry Interference Index on 29^th November 2021. It was a collaborative initiative with the Ministry of Health and the National University of Medical Science of Mongolia.

The key findings and recommendations of the Index were presented to representatives of the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Construction and Urban Development, the Cabinet Secretariat of Government of Mongolia, Governor’s Office of Capital city and Governors’ offices of districts of Ulaanbaatar City.

Following the launch, the Network, in collaboration with the National Center for Public Health, also organized a “Healthy City” training for Mongolian cities on Anti-Tobacco Revolution campaign focusing on good practices in workplaces in Mongolian cities. Among the outcome, the participants of the program agreed to take action to require transparency from the tobacco industry in Mongolia.

Advocacy with the Index

The 2021 Tobacco Industry Interference Index was sent to key government institutions including Ministry of Health, Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Authority for Customs Service, General Authority of Tax, Authority for Fair Competition and Consumer Protection. These institutions are instrumental in regulating tobacco in Mongolia and are responsible for developing policy and implementation laws on tobacco control. They are also responsible for implementing regulations for the approval of tobacco importation and trade in Mongolia.

Outcome of Advocacy with the Index

The Ministry of Health welcomed the Index and will be addressing amendments to the Tobacco Control law in Mongolia. According to them, this is a good time to amend the law and regulations regarding tobacco definition, tobacco trading and industry.  The technical working group on the amendment will take into consideration the key results and recommendation of the 2021 Index. 

The Index has supported the regulation of tobacco control measures to better protect young people from new tobacco products such as e-cigarettes.

The Minister of Labor and Social Welfare and the State Inspector General for Children's Rights provided guidance to governors of provinces and capital city to strengthen the Law on Tobacco Control and the Law on the Rights of the Child. This now include banning the use of e-cigarettes to persons under the age of 21 from 02 December, 2021.

According to official request of the Authority for Fair Competition and Consumer Protection, convenience stores (GS25) have now implemented the ban on the sale of e-cigarettes to those under 21 years. The government’s response to amend the tobacco control law is a big achievement from the advocacy activities. The Healthy City Network of Mongolia will continue to assist the technical working group on the amendment of the tobacco control law and key agencies in the direction of transparency of tobacco industry and tobacco trading, importing as well as infrastructure.

About Healthy City Network of Mongolia:  Healthy City Network of Mongolia aims to increase capacity of local governments in intensifying promotion of inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable cities. Its activities focus on encouraging a health-friendly environment and initiatives for local governments in Mongolia.