State policy of counteracting the consumption of tobacco products

15.06.2020

World experience shows that it is possible to achieve a significant reduction in the prevalence of tobacco smoking only with clear legislative regulation and long-term anti-tobacco programs.

The country has a number of regulatory legal documents, including:

• Decree of the President of the Republic of Belarus of December 17, 2002 No. 28 “On state regulation of production, circulation and consumption of raw tobacco and tobacco products”;
• Law of the Republic of Belarus dated May 10, 2007 No. 225-З "On Advertising";
• Code of the Republic of Belarus on Administrative Violations dated April 21, 2003 N 194-З.

In order to protect current and future generations from the devastating health consequences of tobacco consumption, reduce the social, environmental and economic consequences of tobacco consumption and exposure to tobacco smoke, active work is being carried out in the republic to prevent tobacco smoking. The Republic of Belarus ratified the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) in 2005. The WHO FCTC is the flagship document covering the most important areas of tobacco control in the world, with the participation of 180 Parties.

The coordinator of activities for the implementation of the WHO FCTC in the Republic of Belarus is the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Belarus.

The WHO FCTC imposes legal obligations on its Parties - that is, countries (and the European Union) that have formally acceded to the treaty. Among these obligations are the following:

• protecting public health policies from commercial and other interests of the tobacco industry;
• taking price and tax measures to reduce the demand for tobacco; protecting people from exposure to tobacco smoke;
• regulation of the composition of tobacco products; regulation of packaging and labeling of tobacco products;
• warning people about the dangers of tobacco; prohibition of advertising, promotion and sponsorship of tobacco products;
• helping people prevent their addiction to tobacco;
• control over the illicit trade in tobacco products;
• a ban on the sale of tobacco products to minors and minors.

The Ministry of Health of the Republic of Belarus conducts constant purposeful work to prevent the consumption of tobacco products and diseases causally related to tobacco smoking. These are legislative initiatives, information and educational work with the population, and assistance in quitting smoking. Thus, the country is implementing a number of activities covering various aspects of anti-tobacco activities carried out in the development of the WHO FCTC and as part of the implementation of the state program "People's health and demographic security of the Republic of Belarus" for 2016-2020.

Protection from exposure to tobacco smoke

Smoking (consumption) of tobacco products is prohibited in the country, with the exception of places specially designated for this purpose: in health care, culture, education, sports, trade and consumer services; at a number of catering facilities; in the premises of government bodies, local executive and administrative bodies, organizations; at all types of railway stations, airports, underpasses, at metro stations; in all types of public transport, etc. (Decree of the President of the Republic of Belarus of December 17, 2002 No. 28 "On state regulation of the production, circulation and consumption of raw tobacco and tobacco products").

Work is underway to create smoking-free areas (parks, squares, recreation areas, hotels, cafes, restaurants, public transport stops and others).

Smoking (consumption) of tobacco products in places where it is prohibited in accordance with legislative acts is punishable by a fine of up to four base units.

In accordance with Article 3.30 of the Procedural Code of the Republic of Belarus on Administrative Offenses, authorized officials of the internal affairs bodies, bodies of railway passenger automobile and urban electric transport, the subway have the right to draw up protocols on administrative violations.

In accordance with the "Rules for the use of residential premises, maintenance of residential and auxiliary premises of a residential building in the Republic of Belarus", approved by the Resolution of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus No. 399 dated May 21, 2013, smoking is not allowed in public places (on staircases and landings, in elevator halls, corridors, etc.), which is indicated by special prohibition signs. For violators of this rule, employees of housing and communal services organizations draw up protocols on administrative responsibility, and they are fined (Article 21.16 of the Code of the Republic of Belarus on Administrative Offenses: violation of the rules for the use of residential premises or maintenance of residential and auxiliary premises of a residential building (except for payment for technical maintenance and use of residential premises,

Price and tax measures to reduce the demand for tobacco

At the initiative of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Belarus, in order to implement the WHO FCTC, prices for tobacco products are regularly increased in the country.

Regulation of packaging and labeling of tobacco products; regulation of the composition of tobacco products.

The requirements for packaging and labeling of tobacco products in accordance with the requirements of international standards have been determined.

New requirements are determined by the technical regulations for tobacco products (Technical regulations of the Customs Union "Technical regulations for tobacco products", which entered into force in May 2016).

Ban on the sale of tobacco products to minors and minors.

Decree of the President of the Republic of Belarus of December 17, 2002 No. 28 "On state regulation of production, circulation and consumption of raw tobacco and tobacco products" prohibits the sale of tobacco products to persons under 18 years old, retail trade of tobacco products in educational, medical, children's cultural entertainment and educational institutions; in health care institutions, culture, education, sports, etc.

The open display of tobacco products at trade facilities, as well as the release of non-tobacco products that resemble tobacco products in appearance, are prohibited.

Public education and awareness

Constant information and educational work with the population is carried out at the mass, group and individual levels.

One of the main guiding principles of tobacco prevention activities coordinated by the Ministry of Health is the formation of intolerance towards smoking in society. A wide information and educational activity on the prevention of tobacco smoking was organized, in the implementation of which young people are increasingly active. Unified Health Days (World No Tobacco Day, World No Smoking Day, World Health Day, etc.), holidays, promotions are held annually.

One of the important areas of work on the formation of a healthy lifestyle is the creation and demonstration of social advertising, including on the prevention of tobacco smoking.

The Ministry of Health of the Republic of Belarus actively comes out with initiatives to improve legislation on the consumption of tobacco products. Among them are the expansion of the list of public places where smoking is prohibited, the regulation of electronic smoking systems, the prohibition of smoking in the presence of children under 14 years old in cars.

Only joint efforts of all interested, consistent systematic work aimed at reducing the consumption of tobacco products in our country will contribute to the preservation and strengthening of the health of citizens of the Republic of Belarus.