On June 18, 2024, the Romanian Chamber of Deputies passed a significant bill aimed at strengthening the advertising controls for e-cigarettes, heated tobacco devices, and nicotine pouches. This legislative move, approved by an overwhelming majority, represents a major step in Romania’s ongoing efforts to regulate tobacco product advertising and protect public health.
Scope of the Advertising Ban
Radio and Television:
The new bill prohibits the explicit promotion of e-cigarettes, heated tobacco devices, and nicotine pouches on all radio and television programs. This measure aims to limit the exposure of these products to the general public, particularly vulnerable groups such as minors.
Public Transportation Tickets:
Advertising on public transportation tickets is now forbidden. This restriction helps reduce the visibility of tobacco products in everyday public spaces, further limiting their reach.
Educational Institutions and Medical Facilities:
Advertising within or within 200 meters of educational institutions and medical facilities is banned. This provision is crucial in protecting young people and patients from being influenced by tobacco product advertisements in places where they are most likely to be present.
Publications and Theaters Targeting Minors:
The bill also bans advertising in publications and theaters that primarily target minors. This restriction ensures that media consumed by young people remains free from the influence of tobacco product advertisements.
Content Restrictions for Advertisements
Targeting Minors:
Ads must not target minors, ensuring that promotional efforts are not directed at underage individuals who are particularly vulnerable to the influence of advertising.
Depiction of Minors:
Advertisements must not depict minors using e-cigarettes, heated tobacco devices, or nicotine pouches. This prevents the normalization of these products among young people.
Therapeutic Properties:
Ads must not imply that these products have therapeutic properties, stimulating or calming effects, or can solve personal problems. This restriction is essential to prevent misleading claims that might encourage use based on false health benefits.
Image of Quitting Smoking:
Advertisements must not negatively impact the image of quitting smoking. This ensures that the promotion of tobacco products does not undermine public health campaigns aimed at encouraging individuals to quit smoking.
Warning Labels:
Ads must include warning labels in Romanian. This requirement ensures that consumers are adequately informed about the risks associated with using these products.
Implications of the New Legislation
Protecting Minors:
By banning advertisements in media and locations frequented by minors, the new law aims to reduce the exposure of young people to tobacco product promotions, thereby lowering the likelihood of initiation and use.
Reducing Misleading Information:
The content restrictions prevent misleading advertisements that suggest therapeutic benefits or calming effects, ensuring that consumers receive accurate information about the risks associated with these products.
Expanding Current Laws:
Previously, Romanian law only prohibited explicit advertising of traditional tobacco products. The new bill extends these restrictions to e-cigarettes, heated tobacco devices, and nicotine pouches, reflecting the evolving nature of tobacco product regulation.
Compliance Requirements:
Businesses in the e-cigarette and tobacco industries must now navigate stricter advertising regulations, ensuring that all promotional activities comply with the new legal requirements. This includes revising existing advertisements to include the required warning labels and removing ads from restricted areas.
FAQs
What products are affected by the new advertising ban?
The new advertising ban affects e-cigarettes, heated tobacco devices, and nicotine pouches.
Where is advertising for these products prohibited?
Advertising is prohibited on radio and television, on public transportation tickets, within 200 meters of educational institutions and medical facilities, and in publications and theaters targeting minors.
What content restrictions are imposed on advertisements?
Ads must not target minors, depict minors using the products, imply therapeutic properties, negatively impact the image of quitting smoking, and must include warning labels in Romanian.
How does this new law differ from previous regulations?
Previous regulations only prohibited explicit advertising of traditional tobacco products. The new law extends these restrictions to include e-cigarettes, heated tobacco devices, and nicotine pouches.
