RA LAW `ON RESTRICTION OF SALE AND USE OF TOBACCO PRODUCTION´ TO COME INTO FORCE MARCH 2

YEREVAN, MARCH 1. ARMINFO. A Law “On restriction of sale and use of tobacco production” will come into force in Armenia since March 2, 2005.

According to the Law, production, import and sale of tobacco production with exceeded limits of nicotine or gums are forbidden in Armenia. The sale of tobacco production at the medical, educational, child’s and pedagogical institutions, as well as at sports halls, complexes and stadiums is forbidden, too. The Law also forbids smoking at the cultural, educational and health-care institutions and at the public transport. At the same time, one can smoke in restaurants and cafes in the special provided saloons. Inscriptions on cigarets packets about the health hazard are to be enlarged since 2008.

According to the WHO, Armenia is the first in CIS as to the number of smokers. Nearly 2.000 people aged 35-69 die every year from sickness caused by smoking. The coordinator of anti-tobacco program of Armenia’s Health-care Ministry Alexandr Bazardjyan informed ARMINFO earlier, that 67.5% of men and 3.1% of women aged 15-54 smoke in Armenia. He noted that women often hide their passion for tobacco and added that 30% of mortal cases from cancer, 75% from chronic sickness of respiratory tract and 25% from ischemic heart sickness are caused by smoking. The state expenses on medical treatment of sicknesses from smoking grew by 50% in 2003.