Brussels – Slovenia’s Minister of Health, Valentina Prevolnik Rupel, announced that the country is considering many of the recommendations aimed at reducing passive smoking and aerosol exposure, which were adopted by EU health ministers during their recent meeting in Brussels. The Council of the EU’s recommendations received strong support at the gathering.
Prevolnik Rupel highlighted that since May, Slovenia has implemented a ban on the sale of flavored heated tobacco products, and a similar ban on flavored electronic cigarettes will take effect in April 2025. Additionally, a recent amendment to the Act on the Restriction of the Use of Tobacco and Related Products, passed in late March, will phase out smoking rooms in enclosed public and workspaces, allowing their use only until the end of next year.
During the Tuesday meeting, EU health ministers updated the Council of the EU’s recommendations aimed at reducing passive smoking exposure, which had not been revised since 2009. The updated guidelines also address the regulation of newer products, such as electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco.
Moreover, the Council encourages member states to create more smoke-free outdoor zones, particularly near schools, healthcare facilities, public transportation stops, playgrounds, swimming pools, beaches, and amusement parks.
Regarding the establishment of additional outdoor smoke-free areas, the minister noted that changes to Slovenian legislation in this regard are not currently planned in the short term.
Despite this, the recommendations received unanimous support at the meeting. “It is crucial, especially for children and other vulnerable groups, to have access to smoke-free environments. Research consistently demonstrates that secondhand exposure to tobacco smoke or aerosols is detrimental to health,” the minister emphasized. (December 3)
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