TOBACCO-FREE POLICY 2012

UNIVERSITI SAINS MALAYSIA

TOBACCO-FREE POLICY 2012

1. INTRODUCTION

This policy which shall be known as USM Tobacco-Free Policy (hereinafter referred to as “the Policy”) is drawn up by USM as aninitiative to protect the health of its students and staff by providing them a campus environment that is safe, healthy and tobacco-free. Scientific research has proven that the use of tobacco including smoking or inhaling second-hand cigarette smoke is dangerous and hazardous to health. With this awareness, USM intends to create,implement and enforce the USM Tobacco-Free Policy in campus in tandem with the provisions of the Control of Tobacco Product Regulations 2004 (Food Act 1983) which among others, has listed all higher educational institution as one of the twenty one (21) areas gazetted as non-smoking areas.

USM has opted to implement the Tobacco-Free Policy in lieu of the Smoke-Free Policy as it is more comprehensive and has a broader definition which will enable better control on smoke-free places and the enforcement of related policies such as the prohibition of sale of all types of tobacco products, tobacco use in any form, promotion, advertisement, acceptance of sponsorships and collaborations with the tobacco industry. The Policy is also in line with the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), an international agreement signed by the Malaysian Government on 16 September 2005.

2. DEFINITION.

For the purpose of the Policy, the following words and expressions shall have the following meanings, unless stated otherwise:

3. IMPLEMENTATION AND ENFORCEMENT

The Policy shall be fully implemented effective 1 January 2013.

4. APPLICATION OF THE USM TOBACCO-FREE POLICY

4.1   T he Policy shall apply to any individual upon entering the campus including staff, students, contractors, tenants and all visitors. The objectives of the Policy are:

(a) to transform USM into a cigarette smoke-free campus;

(b) to prohibit any advertisement, sponsorships, distributionand/or sales of tobacco products;

(c) to prohibit any acceptance of sponsorships from the tobacco industry for research projects and students bursaries; and

(d) to prohibit acceptance of sponsorships or gifts from the tobacco industry.

4.2   The Policy shall be enforced by appointed trained staff and volunteers. An individual found violating any of the provisions of the Policy for the first time shall be given a warning and be reminded of the Policy. If the offence is repeated, the individual will be given a second warning. At the third offence, the individual will be liable to a fine or charged in accordance under the USM Tobacco-Free Rules 2013.

4.3   Relevant contact numbers and email addresses will be made available for public complaints, feedbacks and reports of violation of the Policy.

5. NON-SMOKING AREA

5.1   All places in the campus are declared as non-smoking areas, including:

(a) all enclosed buildings (including lecture rooms, tutorial rooms , labs, offices, work areas, study areas, living areas, meeting rooms, foyers, corridors, stairs, elevators, dining room and toilets);

(b) all partially closed areas (including closed passages, passages between buildings and bus stops, entrances and its surrounding areas, patios, cafés and stairs outside the building);

(c) all open areas in the campus;

(d) all buildings of accommodation in the campus;

(e) all USM-owned vehicles or rented to USM; and

(f) all personal vehicles used and/or parked in the campus.

5.2   All areas in the campus are non-smoking areas and non-exempt.

6. ADVERTISEMENT, PROMOTION, MARKETING, DISTRIBUTION AND SALES OF TOBACCO PRODUCTS

USM prohibits any advertisement, promotion, marketing, distribution and sales of tobacco products in any form (including items that bear the manufacturer’s logo or cigarette brand) in the campus and all activities organized by USM.

7. RESEARCH FINANCING AND STUDENTS CHOLARSHIPS

USM shall not accept any financing for research projects or grants or USM shall not accept any financing for research projects or grants or student scholarships or others that are offered directly or indirectly from the tobacco industry.

8. SPONSORSHIPS/GIFTS AND COLLABORATION WITH TOBACCO INDUSTRY

USM prohibits any staff or students representing USM to accept sponsorship, gifts or be involved in collaborations directly or indirectly with the tobacco industry, including community engagement projects.

9. INVESTMENT IN TOBACCO INDUSTRY

Investment strategies involving the tobacco industry, directly or indirectly is prohibited.

10. CAREER CARNIVAL AND STUDENT ENROLMENT

USM prohibits any tobacco industry to participate in career carnivals or any student enrolment activities.

11. QUIT- SMOKING SERVICE

USM provides quit-smoking-services in campus called Quit Smoking Clinic and USM Quitline Service for smokers who wish to quit smoking.

12. NEW STUDENTS ENROLMENT AND STAFF RECRUITMENT

Enrolment of new students and recruitment of staff will take into consideration their smoking status. Selected candidates who smoke will be advised to quit smoking and referred to the Quit Smoking Clinic and USMQuitline Service by USM.

13. ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

13.1   Departmental Heads (PTJ) are responsible for informing their staff of the Policy including seeing to its implementation and strict enforcement.

13.2   No-smoking signboards must be clearly displayed at all entrances to the campus and other strategic areas within the campus including building interiors.

13.3   USM’s Development Department is responsible for maintaining the no-smoking signboards. This department is also responsible for informing its contractors regarding the smoking prohibition in the campus.

13.4   Operators of dining areas/cafes/canteens are responsible for informing any individual smoking in their premises that the act is a violation of the Policy and will request the offender to stop smoking immediately. If the request is not complied to, the operator may ask the offender to leave the premises.

13.5   The Security Department and other trained and appointed enforcement officers are responsible for enforcing the Policy within the campus. They are:

(a) all Officers and Security Guards;

(b) all Officers of USM’s Occupational Safety and Health Unit;

(c) all appointed Medical Officers and Paramedic Staff;

(d) Heads of Departments;

(e) all committee members of the USM Tobacco-Free Project Committee; and

(f) appointed staff and students.

14. REVIEWING OF THIS POLICY

The Policy will be reviewed six (6) months after its implementation date and, thereafter, annually, to ensure that the Policy is relevant, effective and kept up to date.