The fast food didn’t disappear from near schools even if it is one year since the adoption of the law that bans its sale within 100 meters of education institutions. Deputy Minister of Health Svetlana Cotelea has told IPN that one of the reasons is the very small fines stipulated by the Code of Administrative Offenses.

The private individuals who distribute or sell banned food products to children and students near schools are fined 200-400 lei. The fine for legal entities varies between 2,000 and 3,000 lei.

The deputy minister said a group of MPs submitted a legislative initiative that provides for an increase in these fines, but the exact figures are not yet known. The bill was approved by the ministries and is to be endorsed by the Government, which will submit it to Parliament.

The law banning the sale of food products containing a large quantity of sugar, fats and salt within 100 meters of schools took effect last year. The list of products was compiled by the Ministry of Health, the National Public Health Center and experts in the field.