Romania Bans Flavorings in Heated Tobacco Products

Last month, the Romanian government issued a decree amending and supplementing the Romanian Tobacco Law (GO23). This move bans all flavored heated tobacco products.

The law took effect on October 23, 2023.

Prior to the issuance of GO23 under the Romanian Tobacco Law framework, only cigarettes and hand-rolled tobacco were prohibited from having flavors or flavored characteristics added to any of their components (such as filters, paper, packaging, capsules, or any components).

According to media reports, the purpose of GO23 is to extend this ban to heated tobacco products (HNB) and impose stricter requirements on the packaging and labeling of such heated tobacco products.

GO23 establishes a legal definition for "heated tobacco products," referring to "a type of new tobacco product that generates emissions containing nicotine and other chemicals through heating, which are then inhaled by the user, and based on its characteristics, it is a smokeless tobacco product."

This definition will include any type of e-cigarette device that requires heating tobacco to produce inhalable emissions containing nicotine and other chemicals.

The Romanian market will no longer allow heated tobacco products with any type of "characteristic flavor," such as menthol, fruit, etc.

Furthermore, each unit of heated tobacco products and any outer packaging must carry mandatory information: "Tobacco smoke contains over 70 known substances that can cause cancer."

GO23 also stipulates that each unit packaging and any outer packaging of heated tobacco products for smoking must include combined health warnings that comply with all requirements specified in the article.

All manufacturers and importers of heated tobacco products in Romania must notify the Romanian Ministry of Health within 90 days of the issuance of GO23.