Manama: His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, has issued Edict (74) of 2025, which restructures the National Committee to Combat Smoking and All Types and Products of Tobacco. This decision comes following a proposal by the Minister of Health and subsequent approval by the Cabinet.
According to Bahrain News Agency, the restructured committee will be chaired by the Minister of Health and will include members from various governmental sectors. The members include the Assistant Undersecretary for Public Health at the Ministry of Health, the Director of Testing and Metrology at the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, and the Director of Communication and Environmental Awareness at the Executive Office of the Supreme Council for the Environment. Additional members are the Director of Human Resources at the Ministry of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture, the Director of Customs Compliance and Risk Management at the Customs Affairs of the Ministry of Interior, and the Director of Tax Policy at the National Bureau for Revenue.
The committee will also feature the Director of the Media Office at the National Communication Centre (NCC), the Head of School Health Section at the Guidance and Knowledge Resources Directorate at the Ministry of Education, and the Head of Medical Services at the Primary Health Care Centres. Moreover, the President of the Anti-Smoking Society is included. The Head of the Tobacco and Smoking Control Group of the Public Health Directorate at the Ministry of Health will serve as the committee's rapporteur. The membership is set for a term of three years and is renewable.
The edict also allows the committee to consult with experts and specialists for advice on specific matters, although these consultants will not have voting rights in committee decisions. Furthermore, Edict (40) of 2022, which previously restructured the committee, will be repealed.
The Minister of Health, along with relevant authorities, is tasked with implementing the provisions of this new edict. The changes will take effect the day following its publication in the Official Gazette.