Enforcement In Tobacco Control

EnforcementEnforcementEnforcementEnforcementin in in in

Tobacco ControlTobacco ControlTobacco ControlTobacco Control

Challenges & Way Ahead Challenges & Way Ahead Challenges & Way Ahead Challenges & Way Ahead

The EnforcementThe EnforcementThe EnforcementThe Enforcement

Key to success of any Key to success of any Key to success of any Key to success of any

legislation depends on itlegislation depends on itlegislation depends on itlegislation depends on it’’’’s s s s

effectiveeffectiveeffectiveeffective

ENFORCEMENTENFORCEMENTENFORCEMENTENFORCEMENT�The�same�is�true�for�“Tobacco�Control” laws�too

�Unfortunately�enforcement�component�gets�very�

little�attention�and�not�much�work�has�been�done�

on�enforcement�of�tobacco�control�laws

Challenges of EnforcementChallenges of EnforcementChallenges of EnforcementChallenges of Enforcement

�Lack�of�awareness�about�the�rationale�of�the�

“tobacco�issue” and�about�tobacco�control�laws�

among�enforcers

�Lack�about�the�provisions�of�the�law�and�how�it�can�

be�connected�with�other�laws

�Lack�of�proper�training

�Perceived�low�importance�of�law

�Smokers�among�the�law�enforcers�who�have�diluted�

commitment�towards�the�law�

Enforcement DateEnforcement DateEnforcement DateEnforcement Date

Creating an appropriate enforcement date:

Why it is important?

�Gives�time�to�raise�the�compliance�to�a�certain�level�before�the�formal�announcement�comes

�Pushes�Tobacco�Control�into�the�priority�list

� It�puts�things�in�the�right�perspective

�Timelines�and�deadlines�give�the�sense�of�urgency�

�Allows�time�for�Public�Education�campaigns

�Allows�time�for�training�of�the�enforcers,�preparing�for�the�action�and�plugging�the�weak�links.

Fixing the modalitiesFixing the modalitiesFixing the modalitiesFixing the modalities

Questions which need to be answered before enforcement initiated?

� Which�all�agencies/departments�would�be�the�implementing�agencies�

for�the�law?

� Who�will�coordinate�between�different�departments�for�varied�

functionalities�of�enforcement?�The�agency/department�responsible�

for�delegation.

� What�additional�resources/funds�would�be�required?

� Who�will�prepare�the�guidelines�and�decide�the�enforcement�

procedures?

� Who�will�train�the�enforcers?

Enforcement proceduresEnforcement proceduresEnforcement proceduresEnforcement procedures

The Checklist

�Formed�a�central�unit�to�plan,�supervise�and�coordinate�activities

�Clearly�defined�agencies�to�implement�various�provisions�of�the�legislation

�Delegated�responsibilities,�assigned�roles�and�clear�guidelines�issued

�Created�a�proper�mechanism�and�trained�the�implementing�units�on�the�same

�Proper�enforcement�methods�defined

�Empowered�the�agencies�by�way�of�proper�orders/notification�and/or�rules

�Proper�provisions�for�providing�adequate�funding�and�resources��put�in�place

Taking Cognizance Taking Cognizance Taking Cognizance Taking Cognizance –––– Penal Penal Penal Penal

ProvisionsProvisionsProvisionsProvisions

�Simple�way�of�making�complaints�for�penal�action

�Easy�system�of�taking�cognizance/notice�of�

violation

�Well�defined�procedure�on�initiating�prosecution�and�

levying�penalties

Taking Cognizance Taking Cognizance Taking Cognizance Taking Cognizance –––– Penal Penal Penal Penal

ProvisionsProvisionsProvisionsProvisions

�Defining�the�courts/judicial�bodies�empowered�to�try

�Compounding�mechanism�for�petty�offences�under�the�law

�Clearly�defining�officers�who�are�empowered�to�compound�

the�offences

�Defining�the�ways/methods�by�which�of�fines/penalties�are�

to�be�collected�and�deposited�in�government�treasury

Guiding Guiding Guiding Guiding –––– Monitoring Monitoring Monitoring Monitoring ––––

Corrective ActionsCorrective ActionsCorrective ActionsCorrective Actions

� Place�a�system�of�monitoring�of�violations�in�place

� A�procedure�for�compliance�checking

� Regular�reporting�and�centralised�monitoring�point

� Collection�of�statistics�and�keeping�a�record�of�offenders�and�

violations

USING�THE�MONITORING�INFORMATION�FOR

� Realigning�partners�at�regular�intervals

� Retraining�

� Training�and�sensitising�the�new�partners

� Documenting�successes�and�good�practice

� Identifying�bottle-necks�and�plugging�them

Compliance Vs. EnforcementCompliance Vs. EnforcementCompliance Vs. EnforcementCompliance Vs. Enforcement

DifferentiateDifferentiateDifferentiateDifferentiate between compliance and enforcement and

develop a procedure to keep separate record of both –

compliance and enforcement are interdependent but good

compliance is no reason to be complacent – Low level and

irregular enforcement will eventually lead to low

compliance; and vice versa

COMPLIANCE:

When�people�obey�the�law�and�follow�it�voluntary

ENFORCEMENT:

When�an�agency�empowered�to�act�under�the�Act�has�

to�take�corrective�action/penal�action�and�

prosecute/penalise�the�violators

EnforcementEnforcementEnforcementEnforcement

Way AheadWay AheadWay AheadWay Ahead

�Building�a�strategic�media�communication�plan�to�

generate�pointed�public�opinion�and�sensitize�law�

enforcers

�Training�the�law�enforcers

�Ensuring�a�proper�and�effective�system�of�

continuous�monitoring�of�enforcement�is�in�place

�Regular�sensitization,�training�and�monitoring�to�

keep�things�on�track

Way AheadWay AheadWay AheadWay Ahead

�Standardize�enforcement�procedures,�forms�and�

records,�systematic�recordkeeping,�and�tracking�of�

compliance�data.

�Establish�a�complaints�procedure�to�receive�reports�

of�violations�and�follow�them�up.

�Ensure�sufficient�legal�and�other�staff�to�review�

violations�and�ensure�they�are�acted�upon.

Way AheadWay AheadWay AheadWay Ahead

� Establish�a�mechanism�for�evaluating�the�effectiveness�of�

the�inspection�and�enforcement�process.�For�example,�the�

number�of�inspections,�number�of�cases�taken�forward,�

number�successfully�prosecuted,�data�trends,�and�results�

reporting,�should�all�be�tracked.

� Incorporate�inspections�for�tobacco�control�into�other�

programmed�inspections�where�legally�possible�and�

feasible.�For�example,�smoke-free�law�can�be�incorporated�

into�health�and�safety,�municipal�laws,�food�safety,�

consumer�safety,�building�control,�and�licensing�inspections.

Prioritizing EnforcementPrioritizing EnforcementPrioritizing EnforcementPrioritizing Enforcement

Developing�a�strategic�priority�of�enforcement

- Categorize�offences�and�connect�to�other�criminal�laws

- Developing�a�different�level�of�seriousness�for�each�

category�of�offences

- Identifying�separate�enforcement�officers�for�different�level

- Violations�relating�to�product�promotion�and�advertising

- Sale�to�Minors,�etc.

- Public�Smoking

- Monitoring

FOCUSFOCUSFOCUSFOCUS

Remember:Remember:Remember:Remember:

Key to success of Tobacco Key to success of Tobacco Key to success of Tobacco Key to success of Tobacco

Control legislation depends Control legislation depends Control legislation depends Control legislation depends

on iton iton iton it’’’’s effectives effectives effectives effective

ENFORCEMENTENFORCEMENTENFORCEMENTENFORCEMENT