Slovenia already complies with many EU recommendations regarding smoking restrictions

Brussels – Slovenia, according to the Minister of Health Valentina Prevolnik Rupel, already considers many recommendations regarding reducing exposure to passive smoking and aerosols adopted by EU health ministers at the meeting in Brussels. The Council of the EU’s recommendation was supported at the meeting.

As Prevolnik Rupel explained, since May this year, the sale of heated tobacco products with flavors has been banned in Slovenia, and in April 2025, a ban on the sale of flavored electronic cigarettes will also come into effect. The amendment to the Act on the Restriction of the Use of Tobacco and Related Products, adopted at the end of March, also eliminates smoking rooms in enclosed public and work spaces, which can be used until the end of next year.

The EU health ministers on Tuesday updated the Council of the EU’s recommendation aimed at reducing exposure to passive smoking, which was last adopted in 2009. The new recommendation also includes limiting the use of new products, such as electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products.

At the same time, the Council of the EU calls on member states to expand smoke-free zones outdoors, including in the immediate vicinity of educational and healthcare institutions, public transport stops, public playgrounds, swimming pools, beaches, and amusement parks.

Regarding the expansion of outdoor smoke-free zones, the minister explained that changes to Slovenian legislation in this area are not in short-term plans.

The recommendation was nonetheless supported at the meeting. “We know it’s really important, especially for children and other vulnerable groups, to live in a smoke-free environment. All research confirms that secondary inhalation of tobacco smoke or aerosols is harmful to health,” the minister added. (December 3)