It seems that the state seriously decided to take care of the health of its citizens, since cigarettes are becoming more expensive, and in the preparation is the law of strict ban on smoking in public places, including restaurants.
Prices of some cigarettes in BiH are increased by 20 pfennig per pack, and by the end of the month will following new price increases. In June, more precisely on the 4th of June, in BiH will be increased prices of cigarettes ‘Evee Divine Slimss’ and ‘Eve Midtique Slimss’ for 20 pfennig and now a pack will cost 4.20 BAM.
To recall, the wave of increase of cigarette price is lasting from the 1st of April, when the price of five products of the Factory of tobacco Rovinj in average from 10 to 20 pfennig. While a strong media campaign against smoking made smoking unpopular in developed countries, consumption of tobacco products in developing countries like ours is still in increase.
According to recent analyzes, 40 % of adult citizens are smoking in BiH. One smoker in our country on average consumes 2,278 cigarettes during the year, and every year more than 8,000 people lose their lives due to diseases directly caused by tobacco. Besides the large number of smokers in our country, there is also a large exposure to tobacco smoke in all public places, which is directly threatened the right to health of the population. Even 77.3 % of young people between the ages of 13 and 15 are exposed to smoke, which leaves a big effect on their health. Smoking is allowed in most of restaurants, only few of them have separate sections for smokers, but those in which smoking is completely prohibited are very rare.
Arijana Knezevic, Manager of Communications in the Association PROI, says that this association is engaged in the preparation of draft laws for a total ban on smoking in all public places in the FBiH. Law should enter into parliamentary procedure this autumn, and in the mentioned draft law on a complete ban on smoking in public places is also addressed the advertising and packaging of tobacco products, as well as issues related to e-cigarettes and hookah.
“The law is still in the process of finalization. Association PROI along with partners advocates and works on the draft law to align it as much as possible with the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and the EU directives. In order to get new effective policies for tobacco control in the FBiH, the mobilization of society and a high level of awareness of decision-makers is necessary. Therefore, we are planning to conduct a series of activities for the preparation and training of society, key people and institutions on this topic, including the parliament when the law enters the parliamentary procedure, said Knezevic.
According to the current legal regulations in the FBiH, smoking is prohibited in educational institutions, health care and social institutions.
The situation in Republika Srpska is quite different. The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in 2004 adopted a set of laws including the Law on ban of smoking in public places and in enclosed spaces, Law on prohibition of tobacco sales to persons under 18 years old and the Law on ban of tobacco advertising through the media. However, regardless of good legislation and fines up to 15,000 BAM, many people smoke in all public areas and the sanctions are almost nonexistent.
(Source: hayat.ba)
