National Committee for Tobacco Control

The National Committee for Tobacco Control is a national committee composed of a group of government entities that deal with tobacco control in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The committee, which is led by the Minister of Health, implements decisions and laws that help accomplish its goal.

The committee protects people and society from the risks and negative effects of tobacco, reduces tobacco use in society, especially among young people, and builds a healthy society in a tobacco-free environment.

The committee was established based on a decision issued by the Council of Ministers in 2007. It is chaired by the Minister of Health, with the membership of representatives of several government agencies, namely the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Media, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, the Ministry of Sports, and the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance, in addition to the Saudi Food and Drug Authority. Moreover, representatives should at least bear the rank of undersecretary or occupy a similar position.

The committee seeks to formulate public policies that help smokers and protect non-smokers, especially young people, by defining the highest permissible limit of nicotine, tar, and similar harmful substances in imported cigarettes. The committee proposes laws and regulations to control tobacco use, provided that they do not include a proposal to increase customs duties or any type of tax or ban the entry of tobacco into the Kingdom, unless the committee confirms the Kingdom’s commitments to the World Trade Organization.

The National Committee for Tobacco Control develops and supports studies, research, and surveys that limit tobacco's impact and the prevalence of its consumption by hosting workshops, conferences, and seminars. Moreover, the committee communicates with the national and foreign entities in charge of tobacco control, builds an information base including studies, statistics, publications, and scientific references concerning tobacco control, and undertakes other tasks as well.

Tobacco Use Monitoring and Prevention Policies, Protecting Society from Tobacco Smoke, Assistance with Smoking Cessation, Tobacco Dangers Warning Initiative, Tobacco Product Advertising Ban Initiative, and Tobacco Price Raising Initiative are all undertaken by the National Committee for Tobacco Control.