Azerbaijan to step up the fight against smoking

Most likely, as early as the autumn session of the Milli Majlis, amendments to the relevant codes toughening penalties for smoking in public places, as well as for selling tobacco products to minors, will be discussed; these amendments are currently being drafted by the MM Committee on Social Policy, the deputy chairman of the committee, MP Musa Guliyev, told 1news.az.

"Today up to 70% of men in Azerbaijan smoke. In Baku, over the past year the number of women who smoke has increased 2.5 times. This must be fought. The whole world is fighting smoking, and economically developed countries are adopting relevant laws to combat this evil.

In Azerbaijan, however, there are no such laws, apart from the law 'On Tobacco and Tobacco Products' adopted in 2002, which regulates relations connected with the production, import, export and consumption of tobacco and tobacco products in the Republic of Azerbaijan and trade in them, and establishes the legal framework for managing their quality. However, it does not regulate the mechanism for applying fines to those who smoke in public places. It states that smoking in public places is prohibited, but does not specify what is meant by the term 'public places'. And the amount of the fine is not specified either," M. Guliyev said.

According to him, the Committee on Social Policy proposes making changes to the relevant codes and to the law 'On Tobacco and Tobacco Products'. For example, applying fines of 50 to 100 manats for smoking in public places, and up to 100 manats for selling cigarettes to minors, as well as for selling tobacco products near preschool, general education and medical institutions.

"However, we are now working on who will apply the fines. We also need to take into account the fact that at the moment a fine is imposed, the offender may not have the necessary amount on him. What should be done in that case? I think these issues will be worked out by the start of the autumn session of the Milli Majlis. However, I believe we cannot limit ourselves to fines alone. It is also necessary to carry out educational work among smokers," the MP noted.

1news.az