Page 153 - TAIWAN TOBACCO CONTROL ANNUAL REPORT 2019

Date Contents The Bureau of Health Promotion of the Department of Health has invited committee members that have May 23, 2005 proposed each revision of the Act to a meeting in order to discuss the four major topics including tobacco surcharges, advertisements, non-smoking areas, and fetal and child protection. The Finance Committee of the Legislative Yuan has reviewed the "Amendment Draft to Part of the Tobacco May 26, 2005 and Alcohol Tax Act". The preliminary draft approved the part where tobacco health and welfare surcharge was increased from NTD 5 per pack (20 cigarettes) to NTD 10. The Legislative Yuan has repealed the "amendment draft of the Tobacco and Alcohol Tax Act" (the section September 27, 2005 on tobacco product health and welfare surcharges) and left it for open discussion by both the incumbent and opposition parties. October 6, 2005 The Department of Health has convened a "Discussion Meeting on Amendments of the Tobacco Hazards Prevention Act", where "health warning images and text on tobacco packages" were reduced to 50%, and that the prohibition of misleading words such as "mild", "light" shall not apply to product brand names already in use prior to the amendment of this Act. The Social Welfare and Environmental Hygiene Committee has completed preliminary review of the November 9, 2005 "Amendment Draft of Tobacco Hazards Prevention Act" and submitted it for a second reading instead of releasing it for open discussion by both the incumbent and opposition parties. The Legislative Yuan has included second and third readings of the "Amendment Draft of the Tobacco Hazards December 23, 2005 Prevention Act" into the Agenda. However, discussion was not carried out as the meeting was adjourned before scheduled closure. December 30, 2005 The motion was rescheduled in the Agenda and released to open discussion between the incumbent and opposition parties due to committee petition. January 3, 2006 The Legislative Yuan has approved the amendment to Article 22 of the "Tobacco and Alcohol Tax Act" after the 3rd reading. January 18, 2006 Presidential promulgation of the amendment to the "Tobacco and Alcohol Tax Act" (tobacco surcharge to be increased from NTD 5 per pack to NTD 10 per pack). February 16, 2006 Stipulated "Regulations on the allocation and use of health and welfare surcharge of tobacco products" following legal authorization by the amendment of "Article 22 of the Tobacco and Alcohol Tax Act". November 15, 2006 4th open discussion between the incumbent and opposition parties in the Legislative Yuan."Complete prohibition of smoking in indoor public spaces" and "indoor smoking partitions equipped with independent air- conditioning or ventilation systems in restaurants, hotels, and other places open to the public for consumption and leisurely purposes" have been approved and submitted to the Legislative Yuan for approval. January 16, 2007 The Legislative Yuan has implemented and completed a second reading of all 35 articles to the "Tobacco Hazards Prevention Act", excluding Article 10 (tobacco products may not be displayed or shown on store racks accessible to the consumers) and Article 15 (related to places under complete prohibition of smoking) which shall remain unchanged. June 15, 2007 The "Tobacco Hazards Prevention Act" amendment was approved after the third reading. Presidential promulgation of the "Tobacco Hazards Prevention Act" amendment. The legal basis for the July 11, 2007 collection of tobacco products health and welfare surcharge was moved from Article 22 of the "Tobacco and Alcohol Tax Act" to Article 4 of the "Tobacco Hazards Prevention Act". The "Regulations on the allocation and use of health and welfare surcharge of tobacco products", stipulated October 11, 2007 following authorization by Article 4 Paragraph 4 of the "Tobacco Hazards Prevention Act", was released and submitted to the Legislative Yuan for review and approval. Tobacco surcharge fees, assessment policies, and other relevant issues of Articles 4 and 35 amendments January 8, 2008 of the "Tobacco Hazards Prevention Act" were reviewed and approved by the Regulatory Committee of the Department of Health. January 15, 2008 The finalized amendment to Articles 4 and 35 of the "Tobacco Hazards Prevention Act" was submitted by writing to the Executive Yuan. February 1, 2008 The Executive Yuan has convened a meeting for reviewing the amendment draft to Articles 4 and 35 of the "Tobacco Hazards Prevention Act" and amendment draft to Article 22 of the "Tobacco and Alcohol Tax Act". February 22, 2008 The amended "Regulations for the subsidies and awards of smoking cessation services" and "Regulations for the implementation of smoking cessation education" have been released. March 27, 2008 Promulgation of the "Regulations for the Testing of Yields of Nicotine and Tar Contained in Tobacco Products and the Labeling of Cigarette Containers". May 29, 2008 Promulgation of the "Regulations for Establishment of Indoor Smoking Rooms". 151 Appendix