All news

Putin signs anti-tobacco law

The federal law outlined general terms and principles of health protection from the impact of passive smoking and the consequences of tobacco consumption

MOSCOW, February 25 (Itar-Tass) – Russian President Vladimir Putin signed the federal law over the protection of the health of people from the impact of passive smoking and the consequences of tobacco consumption. The law was approved by the State Duma on February 12 and was approved by the Federation Council on February 20, the Kremlin official website reported on Monday.

The so-called anti-tobacco law was enacted to fulfil in the Russian legislation the provisions of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, which Russia ratified in 2008, and the law regulates the relations, which emerged in the protection of health from the malign impact of passive smoking and the consequences of tobacco consumption.

The federal law outlined general terms and principles of health protection from the impact of passive smoking and the consequences of tobacco consumption; the powers of the state authorities in health protection from the tobacco smoke impact and the consequences of tobacco consumption; the rights and duties of people in this sphere.

So, the smoking will be banned at educational establishments (including schools and higher educational establishments), health care institutions, cultural and sport facilities and the buildings housing the state authorities starting from June 1, 2013.

Under the law the smoking will be banned at the offices, which do not have particularly assigned smoking rooms, as well as at the gas stations, bus stops and children’s playgrounds. The smoking will be also banned in the metro, at the railway stations and at the airports.

From June 1, 2014, the smoking will be banned in long-distance trains, airplanes and sea-going ships.

The smoking will be also banned at the restaurants. The smoking will be forbidden at the marketplaces and the organizations, which provide household services and the services for the transportation of the passengers. The smoking ban will also embrace the taxis.

Meanwhile, the sellers will not be able to put the cigarette packs at the noticeable place, because the promotion of the sale of tobacco products and their advertising are also banned. The cigarettes will be removed from the showcases and stands, instead of the cigarette packs only the pricelist of tobacco products will be provided. The sale of electronic cigarettes and chewing tobacco mixtures will be banned as well.

The characters of films, TV series, radio programs, theatrical performances, which are created for children, will be banned to smoke either.

In new films for the adults the characters with a cigarette will also disappear, except for the cases, when the demonstration of the tobacco products and the process of smoking make integral part of the plot of the film.

The excise duties on tobacco products will be also increased according to the legislation on taxes and duties. Meanwhile, minimal retail prices on these products will be set.

The law also introduces a ban for the tobacco companies to hold lotteries and sponsor the festivals.

The measures of medical aid to people, who were sent for the treatment from smoking addiction, the measures of state control in the health protection of people from the tobacco smoking impact and the consequences of smoking and the responsibility for the violations of the requirements of the federal law will be introduced as well.