Filenews 21 September 2023 - by Marilena Panayi
The Government is putting an end to the placing on the market of heated cigarettes with aroma and taste, following today's decision of the Council of Ministers to adopt the relevant European legislation.
At the same time, the data is changing for the packets of heated cigarettes, which will continue to be available on the market, since to them will be added the special warning markings and photographs that the packets of conventional cigarettes and tobacco carry.
According to the relevant decision: "With the aim of harmonizing national legislation with European directives, an amending draft regulations on the withdrawal of certain exemptions for heated tobacco products was approved today by the Council of Ministers."
The Decision concerns in particular: 'Extension of the ban on the placing on the market of tobacco products with a characterising flavour or containing flavourings to any of their ingredients and to heated tobacco products. (The original directive prohibited the placing on the market of conventional cigarettes and roll-your-own tobacco, which contained flavourings in any of their ingredients)'.
"It was also decided to add text markings/warnings on the harm of smoking to packages of heated tobacco products. The markings will be accompanied by deterrent images."
In statements after the end of the Council of Ministers meeting, Health Minister Popi Kanari explained that "in the legislation on tobacco control, enacted in 2017, these products were exempted and the placing on the market of conventional cigarettes and roll-your-own tobacco containing flavourings in their ingredients was prohibited." These amending regulations prohibit the placing on the market, in addition to conventional cigarettes and roll-your-own tobacco, of heated tobacco products containing flavourings in any of their ingredients."
Ms. Kanari clarified that "the amendment does not concern vape products that have liquid inside, but only those categories that concern the device of heated tobacco products in which cigarettes with flavourings are placed."
