Tobacco control

All requisite permits have been issued

Ljubljana – Slovenian tobacco prices rose today under the changes to excise taxes the government confirmed in September. A pack of 20 cigarettes is now 10 cents, or around 2.5%, more expensive. The excise duty on cigarettes rose from EUR 120 to EUR 123 per 1,000 cigarettes, while excise duties on other tobacco products also increased.

Border police officers in Negreti Oas, Satu Mare County, were forced to use weapons to stop several people involved in cigarette smuggling of Ukrainian origin, the spokesperson of the Territorial Inspectorate of the Sighetu Marmatiei Territorial Inspectorate of the Border Police (ITPF), Iulia Stan, said on Tuesday.

Port of Bar in Montenegro. Photo: Government of Montenegro

On July 10, the Prosecutors' Office launched an investigation into the breaking-in to a hangar in the port and theft of a large number of "Marble" cigarettes worth 500,000 euros.

Port of Bar in Montenegro. Photo: Government of Montenegro

"Our international partners' reports have expressed concern over the large volume of illegal transit and illegal placing on the market of tobacco products on the territory of Montenegro. They also emphasize that activities in the Port of Bar indicate the existence of security risks," the government said.

The European Commission is calling for stricter actions on tobacco regulations in a bid to have a tobacco-free generation in the EU by 2040. However, the global number of smokers continues to grow.

This yearly celebration informs the public on the dangers of using tobacco, the business practices of tobacco companies, what WHO is doing to fight the tobacco epidemic, and what people around the world can do to claim their right to health and healthy living and to protect future generations.

In a bid to crack down on the illegal trade in tobacco, the government is designing a new system that will issue products with unique traceability codes that will accompany each packet from the phase of production, through marketing and up until it reaches consumers.

High rates of compliance with the anti-smoking law continue to be recorded in restaurants and bars, according to the National Transparency Authority (EAD) and the Greek Police (ELAS).

More specifically, in the period between January 6 and 16, 86 percent of the 352 restaurants and bars that were inspected were found to be in compliance with the law.

The Panhellenic Association of Facilities, Consumers in Catering (PASKEDI) has lodged a petition with the Council of State, Greece's top administrative court, demanding the annulment of the decision to enforce the smoking ban introduced in 2009 and enforced last year by the new government, which has nixed the possibility of any exemption.