ACUM MP Radu Marian said the excise duties on heat-not-burn tobacco products and the diminution of the impact of these products on the people’s health is one of his priorities, IPN reports.

In a news conference, he announced a legislative proposal centering on tobacco control. “The heat-not-burn tobacco products are exempted from the regulations that apply to ordinary cigarettes and this offers greater freedom of promotion, sale and use,” stated the MP.

According to him, these products are made from tobacco and contain noxious substances similar to those contained in the ordinary cigarettes, but are subject to an excise duty that is 11 times lower than in the case of ordinary cigarettes and this causes losses of tens of millions of lei to the state budget.

The legislative proposal also covers the warnings indicated on heat-not burn cigarette packs. Radu Marian said these notices should warn about the serious risks that these cigarettes pose to health.

The protection of women and children from tobacco is another point of the legislative initiative. The PAS MP considers the risk of mixing up the pack of this type of cigarettes with cosmetics or toys should be eliminated.

“We also consider the Contravention Code should be amended so that this stipulates the same punishments for the violations related to heat-not-burn tobacco products,” stated Radu Marian.

To have the presence of this type of products on the market regulated, Radu Marian suggests holding public consultations with representatives of the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Finance and civil society.

“We should focus on the prevention of diseases caused by smoking, not on their treatment. We do not aim to ban these products, but our task is to make effort to discourage tobacco use. We do not want the young people to grow up amid cigarette smoke. What we want is to protect the young generation,” stated Radu Marian.

World No Tobacco Day is celebrated annually on May 31.