Advertising, Latvia, Legislation, Markets and Companies

The deputies supported amendments to the law "Restrictions Regarding Sale, Advertising and Use of Tobacco Products", stipulating that smokers must respect other people's rights to a clean and smoke-free environment. The law will dictate that it is prohibited to smoke in public while other people are present if they object to it.

Saeima members also supported the Association of Doctors of Latvia proposal that amendments be made to the law concerning non-smokers' rights to clean, unpolluted air, as the rights to be free from risks of ailments take priority over the interests of smokers. The proposal was made taking into account that every person has a right to live in a healthy environment and that the state must protect public health, also keeping in mind that secondhand smoke is hazardous and causes cancerous, cardiovascular and respiratory disease.

The parliament members supported the proposal to raise the legal tobacco-buying age from 18 to 21.

The bill also stipulates that smoking is also defined as "a deliberate use of electronic smoking devices, causing the release of smoke and vapor." It means that electronic cigarettes could be affected by the new amendments as well. Nevertheless, the Association of Non-tobacco Industry objects, saying that electronic cigarettes are a non-tobacco product.

These amendments next will be reviewed in the third and final reading by the full parliament.