Commemorating World No Tobacco Day, observed on May 31 every year, the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI) has stated that Oman witnessed a decrease of 84 per cent in import of tobacco and tobacco products in 2020 compared to 2019.

Statistics from NCSI shows that the number of wholesale and retail establishments trading in  tobacco and tobacco  products was 236 in 2020.

According to H E Dr Ahmed bin Mohammed al Sa’eedi, Minister of Health, in the belief that  tobacco control is one of the best options in the fight against non-communicable diseases, Oman ratified the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control in 2005 through a Royal Decree.

Tobacco taxes are known to be the most effective and cost-effective tobacco control policies and it is important that countries use this tool in their fight against tobacco consumption, H E Dr Sa’eedi said recently.