BAT wants to hasten GHW IRR

Cigarette-firm British American Tobacco (Philippines) has urged the inter-agency committee in charge of formulating the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) for the graphic health warnings (GHW) law to issue the guidelines as soon as possible.

In a statement, Robert Eugenio, BAT Philippines legal and external affairs head explained that the swift implementation of graphic health warnings on cigarette products in the Philippines would ensure a smooth transition to the new regime.

BAT, maker of Lucky Strike and Pall Mall cigarettes, noted that while the issuance of the IRR is not a prerequisite to the implementation of the GHW law by March next year, having the IRR in place before the implementation date would help make the transition easier and smoother.

Eugenio said the IRR will clarify the various technical details and specifications that are not adequately clear in the basic law. “BAT is committed to fully comply with the GHW Law.

We are exerting our utmost effort to ensure that all our packs contain the proper graphic health warnings, as issued by the Department of Health, by the implementation date that the law had mandated,” Eugenio said. (CSL)