The PMs adopted in the final reading a law that bans any form of promotion of smoking. Under the law, whose provisions will take effect gradually, smoking in closed and semi-closed places, including in public transport stations and at a distance of 10 meters from them, and any form of support for any activities by the tobacco industry are banned, IPN reports.

The head of the Parliament’s commission on social protection Oxana Domenti said the sale of cigarettes to minors, online sale of cigarettes and cigarettes with aromas are prohibited. The producers are obliged to publish warnings about the danger of smoking, accompanied by pictograms, on 65% of the area of the pack of cigarettes.

The bill is to take effect when it is published in the Official Gazette, except for several articles. For example, the advertisements for tobacco products on radio and TV, in movie theaters and on the Internet will be banned from January 1, 2016. The provisions concerning the banning of smoking in closed and semi-closed places will take effect on May 31, 2016, while those about the content of the warning – on January 1, 2018 so that the economic entities have time to comply with the new rules and use up the stocks.

According to the Ministry of Health, about 25% of the Moldovans are active smokers. Approximately 4,500 persons die annually in Moldova from diseases associated with smoking. The country yearly incurs costs of over 1 billion lei for treating diseases caused by smoking.