THE Human Resources and Social Development Committee of Parliament on Tuesday arrived at four key proposals for changes to the 2013 Public Health (Tobacco Control) Regulations which could see some persons who protested that the provisions were too “draconian” breathing easier.

The regulations which, among other things, placed a ban on smoking in public spaces, came into effect on July 15 this year but are now being reviewed based on several concerns.

On Tuesday, the committee, after lengthy discussions, agreed that it would recommend that hotels be allowed to have designated areas for smoking,

Regarding the present stipulation in the regulations that graphic health warnings occupy 75 per cent of the top, front and back of cigarette packaging, the committee is of the view that 50 per cent was a more reasonable percentage.

In addition, the majority of members were of the opinion that smoking should not be banned in private residences. Committee Chair Rudyard Spencer said the group would be asking that the current definition of workplace in the regulations be redefined.

Furthermore, as it related to the proposal for retailers of single sticks to display graphic warnings at points of sale, committee members were of the view that persons should not be subjected to such images, especially non-smokers.

Meanwhile, regarding the proposed six-month transitional period to prepare for the actual effective date of the labelling standards, three out of seven members felt that nine months were sufficient, while four thought a year was enough time.

Yesterday, managing director of tobacco distributor Carreras Limited, Marcus Steele, in a statement said the company is heartened by the developments coming out of the Parliamentary Committee’s discussions.

“The truth is, our key positions on several aspects of the regulations have been addressed; reason being, we believe, they are balanced, reasonable and rational,” Steele said.

In the meantime, the company has made some demands.

“The consultation process has been long; in fact, the minister indicated that he would have concluded the process by the first week in September. We therefore ask that he move swiftly to announce the final amendments to the regulations, including those made by the bipartisan Parliamentary Committee, [which] he had commissioned to review the regulations,” Steele added.

He said “thousands of businesses, including hotels, bars, restaurants, and small vendors, and including ourselves, now anxiously await the conclusion of this process”.

“We reiterate that as has been said by the majority of businesses and individuals, there is full support for the introduction of the tobacco control regulations. All we have been asking for is that they be balanced and practical. We believe the decisions made by the committee yesterday reflect a balanced outcome,” Steele said further.

Earlier this month, the company had appealed to the sessional select committee to relax some of the measures, describing them as “excessively draconian” and “unbalanced” in their present form.

Making a submission to the committee, which has been mandated to consider and report on the regulations, Steele at that time said the company was in no way opposed to tobacco control regulations, but argued that the current ban “creates an atmosphere of State victimisation of adults who consume a legal product”.

According to Steele, the regulations have gone totally beyond reasonable scope — beyond what sister countries in the Caribbean Community and even countries in Europe and North America have done.