The House of Representatives of the Federation B&H Parliament with 63 votes in favor, three against and two abstentions adopted the proposed Law on control and limited use of tobacco, tobacco products and other smoking products, which provides for a ban on smoking in all closed public spaces, public gatherings, workplaces and in public transport, and private cars if there are minors in them.

In order for it to enter into force, it needs to be approved by the House of Peoples of the FB&H Parliament.

FB&H Assistant Minister of Health Snježana Bodnaruk pointed out that the law is the basis for the systematic protection of public health and should reduce the cost of health care because significant funds are allocated for the treatment of diseases caused by smoking.

-The law was drafted in accordance with the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control of the World Health Organization and Directive 2014/40 / EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 3 April 2014 on the harmonization of laws and regulations of Member States on the production, presentation and sale of tobacco and related products- underlined Bodnaruk.

The law, she says, gives a period of 18 months for the application of the law, i.e. harmonization with the provisions.

The fines will not be applied in that period, and they are prescribed in the amount of 2,000 to 5,000 KM if the cafe or restaurant does not comply with the provisions of the law banning smoking.

The FB&H coordinator for tobacco control, Aida Ramić-Čatak, emphasized that eight million people die every year as a result of smoking.