In the next several months, Bosnia and Herzegovina will get a new law on the use of tobacco products that will, among other things, prohibit smoking in public places and at workplaces.
Proponent of this law will be the Ministry of Health of FBiH. The Ministry is clear regarding this issue and advocates for the prohibition of smoking in public places. The non-governmental organization PROI – Progressive development of organizations and individuals is also participating in the development of this new law. This organization launched the campaign “It bothers me” with the aim of supporting the prohibition of smoking in public places.
President of the organization PROI Samir Ibišević stated that the introduction of the new law on tobacco products is actually an obligation of BiH, given that five years ago the country made a commitment that it will comply its legislature with the convention on the tobacco control by the World Health Organization and EU directives on tobacco control within five years.
Since the deadlines are breached, this organization initiated several projects in order to change the situation.
“All our politicians publicly stated that our aim is EU integration. In order to be a part of the EU one day, we must comply our legislature with norms and standards that are valid in the member countries of EU. It is no longer the question if we want that or not, that is our liability and that is something that we must do,” Ibišević said.
Ibišević added that the organization PROI is cooperating with the Ministry of Health of FBiH, the cantonal institutes for public health, the federal public health institute, the inspection that will be in charge of the implementation of the law, and the police with whom they are harmonizing all forms of the law application.
“Our expectations are that in the coming period, perhaps in several months, we will have a very good draft law that will be ready for parliamentary procedure and its adoption. We cannot specify the time that this process will take, taking into consideration the local elections as well, but the draft will be completed soon,” Ibišević said.
(Source: klix.ba/photo: hayat.ba)
