Belarus plans to equate electronic cigarettes with conventional tobacco products. This was announced to journalists by Lyudmila Naroychik, Deputy Chief Physician of the Republican Centre for Hygiene, Epidemiology and Public Health, as reported by a BELTA correspondent.
Belarus plans to equate electronic cigarettes with conventional tobacco products. This was announced to journalists by Lyudmila Naroychik, Deputy Chief Physician of the Republican Centre for Hygiene, Epidemiology and Public Health, as reported by a BELTA correspondent.
"The Ministry of Health has put forward an initiative for further regulation of anti-tobacco legislation. The following issues have currently been initiated. Firstly, the legislative regulation of electronic cigarettes. This is a very important recommendation from the World Health Organization. An increasing number of local scientific studies confirm the harm of electronic cigarettes to the human body," said Lyudmila Naroychik. The proposal is to equate electronic cigarettes with conventional tobacco products. This means that all restrictions related to conventional cigarettes will also apply to electronic ones (age restrictions, places of sale and smoking). Secondly, steps have been taken to significantly expand the list of public places where smoking will be completely prohibited. In particular, smoking restrictions are planned to be extended to such public places as restaurants, cafes, entertainment and hospitality venues, beaches, and public transport stops. These initiatives are being worked on.
Lyudmila Naroychik also recalled that a technical regulation on tobacco products has been adopted at the level of the Eurasian Economic Union countries. This regulation defines the requirements for the packaging and labelling of tobacco products in accordance with international norms. Member states are required to switch to packaging where the graphic image and warning inscriptions about the dangers of smoking will occupy at least 50% of the packaging. A mandatory requirement is to include information about the carcinogenic and mutagenic substances contained in the tobacco product. The technical regulation comes into force in May 2016.
From November 16 to 19, a nationwide anti-tobacco information and education campaign is taking place in Belarus. The program includes a wide range of events on the prevention of smoking. Specifically, round tables, press conferences, broadcast of social advertising on radio and television, and mass events for the public are planned. Open information days, public consultations at healthcare facilities, the operation of helplines, and surveys among social media users on the topic of smoking prevention are also being conducted.