Since the law on tobacco control took effect in 2016, there were documented over 26,000 violations and imposed fines totaling over 32.3 million lei. According to the information presented by the Ministry of Health in public hearings staged by the Parliament’s commission on social protection, health and family, barriers are encountered in the implementation of the law, such as the interference of the tobacco industry, advertisements for related products and inefficient regulations. Even if fewer young people smoke traditional cigarettes, consumption of new types of tobacco products, such as IQOS, and related products has increased, IPN reports.

Svetlana Nicolaescu, secretary of state at the Ministry of Health, said that under the current legal provisions, the IQOS boutiques, units trading in tobacco and related products in malls cannot be subject to inspections as such units do not need to notify the trade divisions of the local public administration. These units also do not need to have sanitary permits for working.

The head of the commission on social protection, health and family Dan Perciun noted that the related normative framework has been updated for reducing the young people’s access to tobacco and related products. The law on tobacco control was amended and access to heated tobacco products and electronic cigarettes was limited. The Contravention Code was also amended so as to prevent minors from accessing tobacco and related products. Currently, the MPs are examining a new legislative proposal that introduces the obligation to put the excise duty directly on reserves and cartridges for electronic cigarettes and preparations intended for use in reserves and cartridges for electronic cigarettes.

“In general, the legal framework, primarily after the last amendments, meets the international standards and practices. We are to improve the system for monitoring the implementation of the legislation,” stated Dan Perciun.