The Prime Minister has called on the Viet Nam Fatherland Front Central Committee and its member organisations to work closely with ministries, sectors and local authorities in encouraging members and the public to participate in nationwide efforts to combat the smuggling, transportation, production, trading, storage and illegal use of tobacco products, e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products.

The directive assigns the Ministry of Industry and Trade to take the lead, in coordination with the Ministries of Justice, Public Security, Finance, Health, and Science and Technology, as well as relevant agencies, in reviewing, studying and proposing the inclusion of the concept of “counterfeit goods” in legal documents.

It also calls for further research and the refinement of legal provisions related to handling acts involving the illegal trading, purchase, storage, transportation and use of smuggled tobacco products, e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products, as well as the disposal of confiscated e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products, in order to ensure consistency and coherence in the legal framework.

The directive replaces Directive No. 30/CT-TTg, dated September 30, 2014, on strengthening efforts to combat tobacco smuggling.