Penalties for smoking in closed and semi-closed public places, at workplaces, in units of transport and in open areas administered by medical-sanitary and education institutions will be toughed up. The Government approved relevant amendments to the Law on Tobacco and Tobacco Precuts and to the Code of Administrative Offenses, IPN reports.

Penalties will be also imposed if products that contain toxic substances in higher than allowed quantities or banned substances are sold on the market. The sale of unpacked tobacco products and the display of tobacco products in commercial areas accessible to the public will be banned.

The fine will vary between 2,000 and 10,000 lei, depending on who breaks the law – private individual, person holding a responsible post or legal entity.

The new regulations ban the sale of tobacco products that contain menthol, vanilla, caffeine and other additives that give the impression that the product poses a lower danger. Slim cigarettes will be also prohibited.

If the bill is passed by Parliament, the companies that make or import tobacco products will be obliged to submit the list of components of cigarettes and their quantity to the National Public Health Center.

The Ministry of Health suggests that every pack of cigarettes should contain the general warning “Smoking kills – Give up now” and the message “Tobacco smoke contains more than 70 substances that cause cancer”. The bill provides that from July 1, 2014, 75% of the packing of cigarettes packets will be covered with pictures showing the risks of smoking.

The bill bans advertisements for tobacco products on the radio and TV, in movie theaters and over the Internet. Their promotion by sponsoring different events will also not be allowed.

The authorities also plan to increase the excises on tobacco products in 2014.