Tobacco control

Bulgaria is the country that loses most revenues from illicit cigarettes in the European Union (EU) in relative terms, shows a study of Industry Watch, which was released on Thursday.

Illicit cigarettes cost 1.6 - 2 % of total tax revenues collected by the government and Bulgaria considerably exceeds all other EU member states in this indicator.

The leader of Bulgarian opposition ATAKA party Volen Siderov on Thursday proposed to Parliament to relax the total ban on indoor smoking in public spaces.

An average of 140 M packs of contraband cigarettes are being sold each year in Bulgaria, shows a survey of the Centre for Studying of Democracy, quoted by News.bg.

The "sector" employs 15 000 people and brings losses of between BGN 400 and 500 M to the state budget.

The Sofia Health Inspectorate will increase the number of checks on the implementation of the indoor smoking ban in restaurants, clubs, bars, discotheques and cafes, reports Dnevnik.bg.

Serbia's Finance Ministry is drafting a new Law on Tobacco that will completely ban smoking in enclosed public spaces, such as workplaces, cafes, bars and restaurants.

...