Law Banning E-Cigarette Sales to Minors Enacted

The law prohibiting the sale of electronic cigarettes to minors was promulgated on Wednesday by President Klaus Iohannis. The project introduces sanctions of up to 100,000 lei, depending on the gravity of the act.

Klaus Iohannis signed the Decree regarding the promulgation of the Law for the amendment and completion of some normative acts in the field of tobacco products (PL-x 765/11.12.2023).

The draft law for the amendment and completion of some normative acts in the field of tobacco products, which prohibits the sale of electronic cigarettes to minors, was adopted on February 27, with a majority of votes, by the plenary session of the Chamber of Deputies, the decision-making body, and more amendments that were initially rejected.

The purpose of the draft law is to amend and supplement Law no. 201/2016 as well as Law no. 349/2002. In order to reduce the exposure of children and young people to tobacco products, the proposed normative act extends the prohibition of sales through vending machines as well as the prohibition of sales to young people under the age of 18 for electronic cigarettes, refill bottles for cigarettes, electronic devices for heating tobacco.

At the same time, it is established that educational institutions are obliged to introduce in their own regulations coercive measures applied to students for non-compliance with the provisions related to the sale/possession and use of all categories of products containing tobacco, electronic cigarettes and electronic devices for heating tobacco in the premises them. It also ensures that the definition of the electronic cigarette and the refill bottle of the electronic cigarette, as provided for in the European legislation, is taken over.

The deputies adopted several amendments that had been initially rejected. One of the amendments defines the electronic device for heating tobacco and smokeless inhalation products from tobacco substitutes, electronic cigarette, refill bottle, nicotine sachet for oral use, as well as smokeless inhalation products from tobacco substitutes. According to another amendment, the introduction to the market of nicotine sachets (pouches) for oral use that do not comply with the provisions of this law is prohibited. The level of nicotine contained in each pouch cannot exceed the value of 20 mg/pouch.

Smoking, prohibited in schools

According to another adopted amendment, smoking is prohibited for students in all educational institutions, as well as the use of all categories of products containing tobacco, electronic cigarettes, refill bottles for electronic cigarettes, electronic devices for heating tobacco and products intended for smokeless inhalation of tobacco substitutes, (pouches) of nicotine sachets for oral use and products intended for smokeless inhalation of tobacco substitutes.

The project introduces sanctions of up to 100,000 lei, depending on the gravity of the act.