No smoking

The production, circulation, and consumption of tobacco raw materials and tobacco products, the production of electronic smoking systems, liquids for electronic smoking systems, and tobacco consumption systems in our country are regulated by the Decree of the President of the Republic of Belarus of December 17, 2002, No. 28 (as amended by the Decree of the President of the Republic of Belarus of January 24, 2019, No. 2) "On State Regulation of Production, Circulation, and Consumption of Tobacco Raw Materials and Tobacco Products".

According to this Decree, a categorical prohibition on smoking (consumption) of tobacco products, the use of electronic smoking systems, and tobacco consumption systems (hereinafter referred to as smoking) is introduced in the following places: in elevators and auxiliary premises of apartment buildings, dormitories; on children's playgrounds; at workplaces organised in premises; on territories and in premises occupied by sports and recreational and other camps, educational institutions, organisations implementing postgraduate education programmes; at bus stops on passenger road transport routes, boarding areas used for passenger embarkation and disembarkation; in all types of public transport, with the exception of sea-going vessels and vessels of mixed (river-sea) navigation; in cars if children under the age of 14 are present.

Except for specially designated areas, smoking is also prohibited in retail outlets and consumer services facilities, shopping centres and markets; in public catering establishments, on the territory of outdoor seating areas (extensions of dining rooms); within the boundaries of territories occupied by beaches; on territories and in premises occupied by physical culture and sports organisations, sports and fitness facilities; in production buildings (premises); in premises and on territories occupied by state bodies, cultural and healthcare organisations, sanatorium-resort and

health resort organisations, organisations providing communication services, social, banking and other services; in premises intended for receiving citizens; in premises of road transport passenger terminals; in premises and on the territory of railway stations.

Owners of facilities where smoking is permitted are obliged to create or designate special areas on the territories of these facilities or smoking rooms, equipped in the established manner and marked with a "Smoking Area" sign.

At facilities where smoking is prohibited, owners of such facilities shall post a no-smoking sign.

The sample and requirements for placing the no-smoking sign are established by the Resolution of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Belarus of April 19, 2019 No. 35 "On establishing the sample and requirements for placing the no-smoking sign".

In accordance with legislative acts, at facilities and territories where smoking is prohibited, the no-smoking sign must be placed at the entrance. Organisations providing hotel and other services must place the no-smoking sign at the entrance and near the check-in area. Owners of business entities may also additionally determine the locations for placing the no-smoking sign.

The size of the no-smoking sign must ensure its visibility. Accompanying the no-smoking sign with inscriptions "No smoking", "Smoking is prohibited" or information about the fine for smoking in prohibited places is also permitted.

Prepared by: Anna Dovnar, Assistant Hygienist of the Lepel District Centre for Hygiene and Epidemiology