Slovenia passes law to require plain tobacco packaging from 2020

Slovenia’s parliament passed a law imposing plain tobacco packaging from 2020 on 15 February 2017. The law, which was passed by 61 votes for and no vote against, will also prohibit advertising of tobacco products and showing those products on television shows and at public events aimed at those under 18 years of age.

Minister of Health Milojoka Kolar Celarc stated, “every day, 10 people in Slovenia die on account of smoking and we lose as much as 5 percent of gross domestic product or 1.8 billion euros on account of it.”

Almost a quarter of Slovenians between the age of 15 and 64 smoke. Accordingly, Minister Celarc reminded that smoking has killed more people than both world wars. However, minors still have access to tobacco products, and smoking remains socially acceptable.

Slovenia is making great strides in implementing articles 11 and 13 of the FCTC and the Convention Secretariat congratulates for their success!

Further details on the development of the new legislation are available at: http://www.euro.who.int/en/countries/slovenia/news/news/2016/04/slovenia-seeks-stricter-tobacco-control-legislation

Slovenia’s FCTC implementation reports on the Convention are available at: http://apps.who.int/fctc/implementation/database/parties/Slovenia

The text of the new law (in Slovenian) is available at: http://imss.dz-rs.si/imis/601ce03a35a0d00c2a33.pdf