Medical associations call for ban on nasvay and snus to be lifted

ASTANA. KAZINFORM - Leading medical associations of Kazakhstan called the Majilis to take legislative measures to prohibit the use of smokeless tobacco in Kazakhstan.
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United Dental Association and the National Medical Association and Coalition "For Kazakhstan, free from tobacco smoke" signed the appeal.

Standards for "banning the production, sale and distribution of smokeless tobacco products" are included in the draft amendments to the Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan "On people's health and the health care system" which is currently being considered in the Majilis.

Number of people taking nasvay and shus may increase a thousand times if the government does not ban smokeless tobacco products sales. Nasvay was used since ancient times in Central Asia: Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Afghanistan, in the south of Kazakhstan and the West of China. More than 10.1% of Kazakhstan's population consumes smokeless tobacco products (nasvay, snus, etc). In Kazakhstan 4.7 % of women and 15.2% of men are at the category of people "chewing tobacco" - at least 1.69 million of Kazakhstan citizens.

NGOs argue that foreign snus manufacturers may increase the number of its customers in our country to 60%, ie 10 million people. The appeal also states that since 2001 almost all European countries banned snus and chewing tobacco sales, and smokeless tobacco is illegalized by the EU Directive 2001/37/ES of the European Parliament and the Council.
NGOs also offer to provide administrative, civil or criminal responsibility of individuals for the production, distribution, transportation and sale of smokeless tobacco products.

NOTE: "Nasvay" is a type of non-smoking tobacco, currently used worldwide. The main components of nasvay are tobacco and alkali (calcium hydroxide). Other elements of the product can include plants, oil and seasoning to enhance and improve taste. The carbon hydroxide changes the pH of Nasvay. Furthermore, it increases the absorption of nicotine into the blood stream, through the membrane in the mouth. Nasvay can be sold in the form of small "balls" or "long plastic sticks". Its appearance is a dark "dirty" green. When using Nasvay, there is a possibility of becoming nicotine and psychologically dependent.

"Snus" is a moist powder tobacco product originating from a variant of dry snuff in early 18th century Sweden. It is placed under the upper lip for extended periods of time. Snus is not fermented and contains no added sugar. Although used similarly to American dipping tobacco, snus does not typically result in the need for spitting and, unlike nasvay, snus is steam-pasteurized. The sale of snus is illegal in the European Union and Turkmenistan but, due to special exemptions, it is still manufactured and consumed primarily in Sweden, Norway and Denmark (loose only). The Russian State Duma drafted a bill which banned snus in Russia from 1 June 2013 onwards; however, it was never ratified.

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