Flavored products to disappear in Bermuda wrangle

Bermuda’s forthcoming anti-tobacco measures have been described as draconian and possibly the strictest in the world, according to a story by Jonathan Bell for The Royal Gazette.

Smoke Shop proprietor Michael Heslop was quoted as saying that no other country was banning as many products as Bermuda was planning to ban. He said that, under the provisions of the Tobacco Control Bill 2015, he would have to remove 161 products from his shelves.

Heslop’s main concern seems to be that whereas other countries are banning only flavored cigarettes, Bermuda is poised to ban all flavored tobacco products and related materials, including shisha, tobacco wraps, tobacco rolling papers, blunts, cigarillos and bidis.

Jeanne Atherden, the Minister of Health, is on record as saying that the new requirements contained in the bill are in line with World Health Organization protocols.

The new regulations are expected to come into force in December.