2024-08-01 17:44:22
In case of violations, establishments are closed and a fine between 30 and 40 thousand BGN is imposed.
Within days, the free sale of paradisiacal gas will end, and children will no longer smoke vapes and smokeless cigarettes. These amendments in two laws were adopted by the deputies in the first reading on Wednesday.
The BSP amendments completely prohibit the sale of natural gas to natural persons regardless of age. This will also apply to online sales.
For medicinal purposes and food production purposes only
will be able to buy the legal firms.
If someone violates these rules, the fine starts from BGN 5,000, and in the case of a repeated violation it is up to BGN 20,000. For a legal entity, the sanctions start from BGN 20,000, and if the violation is in an establishment, the penalty will be between BGN 30 and 40 thousand .and closing the site.
Last year, the deputies banned the use of paradise gas in establishments and its sale to minors.
However, its use seems to be more and more widespread and more and more often accompanied by a demonstration of disregarding the prohibitions and the foreseen sanctions, explain the socialists.
Once again, we will change the legislation, but there will be no control if the executive power does not take measures, said Kliment Shopov from “Vazrazhdane”. He recalled that, despite the ban, paradise gas is sold in bars and discotheques.
The MPs also banned the use of smokeless and heated tobacco products, as well as non-tobacco products, including vapes for children under 18.
These GERB amendments to the Children’s Act were also passed by an absolute majority at first reading.
Until now, the use of tobacco products and alcoholic beverages for children was prohibited, but no mention was made of smokeless cigarettes.
A large part of this type of products are of unclear origin and the absence of a ban on their use and sale is enough to offer more and more new products with an unclear substance, it is written in the reasons and an example is given of products and products such as smokeless cigarettes, vapes with and without nicotine, chewing gum and so on, which actually remained outside the legal provision until now. In most cases, similar types of products affect health and are the cause of the appearance of mild to severe diseases, GERB explained.
“Damage from such products is both direct and indirect. In addition to the harmful habits that are formed in children, the composition of the new products that are introduced daily and that are massively used by children is also in doubt. The apparent absence of harmful substances or reduced harm stimulates children to use these products in immoderate quantities, consuming them for a long time without interruption, thus increasing their harm to the life and health of children”, explained Prof. Kostadin Angelov.
Additional restrictions may be introduced between the first and second readings. “I am opening a big door to you with the idea of whether these types of cigarettes and vapes are allowed to have fruity flavors – they are feeding children, misleading them that they are harmless, and their content remains unknown,” said Angelov.
Let’s think in the health commission about a lot
wider control – both of energy drinks and flavored vapes and
smokeless cigarettes, suggested Alexander Simidchiev from PP-DB. His colleague Ivaylo Mitkovski explained that Bulgaria is in one of the first places in terms of smoking among persons under the age of 18.
“The current bill is a step towards overcoming this negative trend, which has become very common. It is not really known what is in these vapes, but the psychological impact on children is more important, because such a taste and the belief that they are harmless leads to thinking that cigarettes are like that too”, added Mitkovski.