Bulgaria to ban all non-tobacco-flavored heated tobacco products from 2024

All non-tobacco-flavored heated tobacco products in Bulgaria will be banned from sale starting January 1, 2024. This regulation was established as lawmakers amended the Tobacco and Tobacco Products Law and did not provoke any controversy.

According to recent reports from Bulgarian media Novinite, all non-tobacco-flavored heated tobacco products will be banned from sale starting January 1, 2024. This regulation was established as lawmakers amended the Tobacco and Tobacco Products Law and did not provoke any controversy.

The recent amendments to the Tobacco and Tobacco Products Law, approved by the House of Representatives, were established without any debate. This move is a response to the European Commission's directive, and non-compliance could lead to criminal prosecution against Bulgaria. The purpose of these amendments is to reduce the appeal of heated tobacco products, particularly by eliminating flavored options.

Additionally, each heated tobacco product's packaging must display warnings highlighting the associated risks during use.

According to the updated law, Bulgaria's Ministry of Economy and Industry will be responsible for banning additives in tobacco products that significantly increase toxicity, addictiveness, or pose risks of cancer, mutation, or reproductive toxicity.

These legislative changes are pending formal publication in the national gazette issued by the government.