The Council of Ministers has approved a legislative decree concerning nicotine-based products and which, according to what was announced by Health Minister Beatrice Lorenzin via Twitter, will enter into force "by Christmas". The decree follows a European directive of 2014 which had the objective of standardizing the laws and rules of the EU member states with regard to tobacco and their processing.
Many innovations, starting from the ban on the use of flavors in cigarettes and loose tobacco, up to ban on the sale of packs of 10 cigarettes and small packs of tobacco, more easily purchased by young people due to their lower cost. Furthermore, when the decree comes into force, 65% of the surface of the packages will be covered with photos and warnings against the current 30-40%.
New rules have also been established for the protection of minors: it will be forbidden to sell electronic cigarettes and refill containers with the presence of nicotine to minors; smoking will be prohibited in the car in the presence of minors and pregnant women and smoking will be prohibited "in the external appurtenances of hospitals and pediatric scientific hospitalization and treatment institutes (IRCCS), and in the external appurtenances of individual pediatric, gynecological, obstetrics and neonatology”.
In this sense, the penalties for those who sell tobacco products or electronic cigarettes to minors have also been increased, which will range from 1.000 to 4.000 euros up to the three-month suspension of the license, to get to the revocation of the license in case of repeated transgression.
Finally, the decree established the safety requirements and maximum nicotine concentration limits for electronic cigarettes, also accepting the EU provisions in this case.
