BACKGROUND AND IMPLEMENTATION CHALLENGES: Vietnam ratified FCTC in 2004 though Article 5.3 has not been legalized in any tobacco control legislative documents. The industries utilize the current regulation requiring all effected entities by any policies will be consulted during its development process for spreading their narratives and policy proposals in any single tobacco control policies. The Excise Tax Law including tobacco tax revision was proposed to the Government in 2018 but only submitted to the National Assembly (NA) in Feb 2024. One of the key explained reasons is the industry interference in various platforms.
INTERVENTION OR RESPONSE: The daily media surveillance, industry website scanning, monitoring industry and its allies’ speeches were conducted and circulating to the tobacco control network comprising of civil society organizations, academic institutions, WHO and selected Government ministries for preparing the countering arguments and the joint countering actions, journalism trainings.
RESULTS AND IMPACT: Industry raising the fear of policy makers and public on increasing smuggling cigarettes, negative impact on employment, reducing the Government revenues through keeping flooding the media with articles, promoting and providing research support to the academic institutions, sending the letters to the relevant Government agencies besides highlighted its contribution to the nation economy. Exposing industry narratives, interference and countering arguments have been delivered to the policy makers through a series of media interviews, advocacy workshops, proper evidence based documentation. Finally, the tax proposal with moving to mix excise tax system with two very strong tax options currently being reviewed by the National Assembly. Defense for strong proposal was delivered by Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Health in November 2024.
CONCLUSIONS: Data led action, monitoring and documenting the industry narratives in tobacco tax is crucial for preparing for the countering arguments. Joint actions and building trust among the health and finance ministries, specific stakeholders’ roles helped to reduce the industry intervention.