The draft law on amendments and additions to certain regulatory acts in the field of tobacco products, which prohibits the sale of electronic cigarettes to minors, was adopted on Monday in clauses with several amendments that were initially rejected, writes Agerpres.

The bill will go to a final vote on Tuesday in the Chamber of Deputies after the Senate passes the proposal.

The purpose of the draft law is to introduce amendments and additions to Law No. 201/2016, as well as Law No. 349/2002. In order to reduce the impact of tobacco products on children and youth, the proposed regulatory act expands the ban on sales through vending machines, as well as the ban on the sale of electronic cigarettes and cigarette refills to youth under the age of 18. , electronic devices for heating tobacco.

At the same time, it was established that educational institutions are obliged to provide in their regulations for coercive measures that are applied to students for non-compliance with the provisions regarding the sale/possession and use of all categories of products containing tobacco, electronic cigarettes and electronic devices for heating tobacco in their premises.

It also ensures that the definition of e-cigarette and e-cigarette refill bottle as required by European law is accepted.

Deputies adopted several amendments that were initially rejected

One of the changes defines an electronic device for heating tobacco and smokeless inhalation products from tobacco substitutes, an electronic cigarette, a refill bottle, a nicotine pouch for oral use, as well as smokeless inhalation products from tobacco substitutes. According to another amendment, it is prohibited to put into circulation nicotine packets (pouches) for oral use that do not comply with the provisions of this law. The level of nicotine in each pack cannot exceed 20 mg/pack.

Under another amendment passed Monday, students in all educational institutions are prohibited from smoking and from using all categories of products containing tobacco, e-cigarettes, e-cigarette refills, electronic tobacco heating devices and smokeless inhalation products tobacco, (packages) nicotine sachets for oral use and products intended for smokeless inhalation of tobacco substitutes.

Tobacco products can no longer be sold through vending machines

It is also prohibited to sell all categories of tobacco-containing products, electronic cigarettes, refill bottles for electronic cigarettes, electronic devices for heating tobacco and products intended for inhalation without burning from tobacco substitutes, (packs) of nicotine packs for oral administration through machines. the use and products intended for inhalation without burning from tobacco substitutes is provided by another adopted amendment.

At the same time, the sale of all categories of goods containing tobacco, electronic cigarettes, refill bottles for electronic cigarettes, electronic devices for heating tobacco and products intended for inhalation without combustion from tobacco substitutes, sachets (bags) with nicotine for oral administration is prohibited. use and products intended for inhalation without burning from tobacco substitutes to persons under 18 years of age.

To verify the age of people buying these types of goods, sellers could require proof of identity under another amendment passed on Monday.

Courier companies will have to check the age of customers when delivering tobacco products

Sale through easybox/locker devices of all categories of products containing tobacco, e-cigarettes, e-cigarette refill bottles, electronic tobacco heating devices and products intended for smokeless inhalation of tobacco substitutes, nicotine containers for oral use and products for smokeless use is prohibited . inhalation of tobacco substitutes. These goods, which are sold through courier services, must have a message on the package that is as legible as possible: “Caution! This package contains tobacco products and/or products containing nicotine. Check the customer’s age.”

In the sanitary permit for the activities of establishments selling tobacco products, electronic cigarettes, refill bottles for electronic cigarettes, electronic devices for heating tobacco and products intended for inhalation without burning from tobacco substitutes, (packages) nicotine sachets for oral use and smokeless inhalation products. of tobacco substitutes, a special item is introduced prohibiting the sale of tobacco products, electronic cigarettes, refill bottles for electronic cigarettes, electronic devices for heating tobacco and smokeless inhalation products made of tobacco substitutes, (packages) of nicotine sachets for oral use and products intended for inhalation without burning from tobacco substitutes for youth up to 18 years old, provides for another amendment.

Sanctions up to 100,000 lei

The project introduces sanctions of up to 100,000 lei depending on the gravity of the act.

The Ministry of Education establishes the framework regulations on the organization and functioning of units of pre-university education, sanctions applied to students for non-compliance with the provisions related to the sale/possession and use of all categories of products containing tobacco, electronic cigarettes, refill bottles for electronic cigarettes and electronic devices for heating tobacco, in the premises of educational institutions.

“The solution is to stop advertising and that’s what you’re giving up”

During the general debate, USR MP Emanuel Ungurianu noted that advertising “is the key.”

“The idea that you can ban the sale of electronic smoking devices to people under the age of 18 is a utopia. (…) Advertising is the key, because there you “burn” those who produced such devices, you stop the spread of false information, which is propaganda that these electronic devices are less toxic than classic smoking, and you play this purely an election game. to show that you are interested in the lives of children and young people (…) The solution is to stop advertising, and this is what you refuse,” Ungurianu said.

For her part, AUR deputy Janina Sherban emphasized the need to ban the advertising of electronic cigarettes.

“AUR will vote for this bill, but if we really want to protect young people, work and think about their health, we should think about how to stop drug use, how to do prevention, how to engage in education. This bill can have an effect if it is introduced as soon as possible, but from our point of view, in order to really protect young people, we have to stop this phenomenon. And, as a colleague from the Ukrainian SSR also said, we must stop advertising these products that are harmful to our youth,” said the Ukrainian SSR deputy.

PNL MP Gigel Ştirbu announced that there is a legislative initiative in specialized commissions to ban the advertising of all those electronic tobacco heating devices, adding that these tools “have become a part of the lives of minors along with mobile phones.”

“I think banning ads on these tools is beneficial,” he added.

The temporary president of the Chamber of Deputies, social democrat Alfred Simonis, the initiator, emphasized that the ban on advertising is important, but it is more important that minors can no longer buy this type of product.

• “The phenomenon of consumption of this type of product does not end with the ban on advertising. The ban on advertising is also ending, but before that it must be very well regulated whether minors can buy this type of product in stores. (…) This is a good initiative, the children of tomorrow will no longer be able to buy such electronic cigarettes, they will no longer be able to buy those nicotine boxes, because something like that has also appeared, they can no longer be sold in vending machines.

• Starting tomorrow, fines can reach 100,000 lei for shops that sell such goods to minors. This is a good moment, a moment when we can reach a consensus in the Romanian Parliament,” Simonis said.

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