It’s official: Rada equated e-cigarettes to cigarettes

At its meeting on December 16, the Verkhovna Rada adopted the anti-tobacco draft law №4358. In particular, it should regulate smoking devices by equating them with conventional cigarettes.

As Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine, Olha Stefanyshyna, reported, 317 deputies voted in favor.

📍 The draft law equates heated tobacco devices and e-cigarettes to conventional ones. From now on, they will not be allowed to smoke in public places.

📍 The draft law also prohibits the sale or advertising of electronic smoking devices to minors.

📍 The draft law also prohibits the sale of flavors (fruit, candy, menthol, etc.) of tobacco products and electronic cigarettes, liquids, and refill containers. The explanatory note states that such products attract children and young people to start smoking, creating a false impression of the effects of tobacco use.

The Ministry of Health specified, the law comes into force 18 months after its publication.

📍 In addition, the warning about the consequences of smoking should now be combined, i.e. contain a picture and text, and occupy 65% ​​of the pack size.

📍 Also, 30% of the pack will now be a warning on the packaging of e-cigarettes and liquids for them.

📍 Amendments to the Law of Ukraine № 2899-IV "On measures to prevent and reduce the use of tobacco products and their harmful effects on public health" introduce a new article regulating the requirements for activities related to production, wholesale and retail trade, export and import of electronic cigarettes and refill containers, as well as an article on reporting on ingredients and emissions.