Benin's civil society organizations have urged the country to accelerate the legislation of a new anti-smoking law.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the organizations complained of "administrative delays" in the redrafting of the anti-smoking law in line with the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.
The statement noted that the commitment was aimed at protecting present and future generations against the devastating health, social, environmental and economic effects of smoking in Benin.
The civil society groups calling themselves "End-Smoking-in Benin" said although imports and sales of tobacco products earned a fortune for the country, the tobacco-related ailments have generated higher cost for the government.
Benin's health ministry began pushing for adoption of a new anti-smoking law in 2009 to counter new strategies employed by the tobacco industry. But civil groups complained that the process had been blocked since 2015.
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