The National Association of Restaurants and Recreational Places of Moldova warn the authorities about inadvertencies and confusion in the so-called anti-tobacco law that is to take effect on May 31. It says the example of Romania, where the authorities started to amend a similar law, should be followed, IPN reports, quoting a press release of the Association.

The Association’s head Aneta Zasavitski said that not even two months after the coming into force of the anti-smoking law in Romania, which bans smoking in closed places or places limited by two walls, the Romanian senators voted several amendments designed to substantially change things. Following the amendments proposed by the Romanian authorities, smoking in public places in Romania could be allowed again soon. “Closed area” will be defined as an area with walls around, not only two lateral walls, as the current law provides. Furthermore, smoking will be allowed in separate areas that are completely isolated and on specially laid out external terraces. This means that a restaurant can have an external terrace with three walls where smoking will be possible.

The National Association of Restaurants and Recreational Places submitted earlier a petition to the administration of the Government and Parliament, asking for more clarity as regards the regulation of smoking in recreational places and the so-called ‘specially laid out places for smoking’. Aneta Zasavitski said the Association requited the authorities to formulate clear regulations and indications about the laying out and location of places for smoking and other aspects regarding the use of tobacco products.

In the same petition, the Association expressed its concern about the inspections to see how the legal norms are obeyed that the competent bodies are to launch soon after the coming into force of these provisions, given that in the conditions in Moldova, any doubt will be interpreted to the detriment of the private individuals-taxpayers.

The Association said it supports the protection of the rights of nonsmokers and promotion of a healthy lifestyle, but wants clear rules so that the provisions of the anti-smoking law could be put into practice. It calls on the authorities to continue the discussions on these provisions and to ensure the formulation of clear mechanisms for implementing the law.