May 31, 2016 is declared World No Tobacco Day for the Republic of Palau in a Proclamation 16-181 signed by His Excellency President Tommy Remengesau Jr. and witnessed by members of Coalition of Tobacco Free Palau.
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With this proclamation, President “urges everyone to take part in observance and activities that amplify messages to Get Ready for Plain Packaging”, and to focus attention on the terrible impact tobacco use has had in world and in Palau.
Tobacco is a major risk factor for one of the four NCD groups, which is highest in the Pacific and significant contributor to the deaths in the Pacific.
“Plain packaging is part of a comprehensive, multi-sectoral approach to tobacco control”. According to the proclamation, plain packaging reduces the attractiveness of tobacco products to youth, restrict packaging as a form of advertising and promotion, limits misleading packaging and labeling and increases effectiveness of health warnings.
Palau as a member of WHO Framework on Tobacco Control and signatory of the convention is mandated to implement such measures to reduce the use of tobacco. [/restrict]