On July 11, new norms of anti-tobacco legislation came into effect in Ukraine. It is about the changes introduced by the Law of Ukraine No. 1978-IX to the Law of Ukraine ‘On measures to prevent and reduce the use of tobacco products and their harmful effects on the health of the population’, which prohibit the smoking of electronic cigarettes and similar devices in public institutions. In particular, the ban also applies to hookahs and the use of ashtrays.
In December 2021, the Council finally equated electronic cigarettes and tobacco heating devices (such as IQOS and glo) to regular tobacco products — the corresponding changes were approved by Law No. 4358. The document is primarily aimed at regulating electronic smoking devices in accordance with European integration Directive 2014/40/EU and the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. The ban on the sale of heating devices to children under the age of 18 has been in effect since January 2022, and new anti-tobacco rules are coming into effect today.
From now on, smoking of electronic cigarettes and vapes is prohibited in and near health care facilities, sports and educational facilities, near and inside public catering facilities, as well as in cultural facilities (for example, cinemas and theaters). This ban also applies to the premises of state authorities, hostels, airports (except for specially designated places), playgrounds, railway stations and bus stations, public transport stops. It will also not be possible to smoke electronic tobacco heating devices in elevators, subways, public transport and taxis.
The adopted law also restricts the use of advertising to promote tobacco products and smoking devices.
In places subject to the ban, a corresponding sign must be placed – ‘Smoking, consumption, use of tobacco products, electronic cigarettes, devices for consumption of tobacco products without burning them, hookahs is prohibited!’. Restaurant owners and business entities may be fined for violations — you can complain to the institution’s administration, as well as contact the police and the State Production and Consumer Service.
This law also provides for a ban on flavored tobacco and roll-your-own tobacco, but the rule will not come into effect until July 2023. From January 2024, manufacturers will also have to display health warnings on e-cigarettes and tobacco heating devices — such warnings must occupy 30% of the packaging area. On ‘traditional’ cigarettes, such marking should be 65%.
- The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that more than 8 million people worldwide die each year from diseases caused by tobacco use.
- Tobacco use is one of the main risk factors for non-communicable diseases (cardiovascular, diabetes, cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and mental health disorders), which is the cause of almost 84% of all deaths in Ukraine. Every year, 85 thousand Ukrainians die from diseases caused by smoking.
- According to the WHO, about 20% of teenagers aged 13-15 smoke e-cigarettes. It is also known that the majority of underage smokers (80%) started such a bad habit by using devices for heating tobacco. At the same time, smoking is twice as dangerous for children as it is for adults. For example, a lethal dose for an adult is one pack of cigarettes, for a teenager – half a pack.
- Smoking is also a key risk factor for non-communicable diseases, accounting for 91% of all premature deaths.
