Croatia Considers New Legislation to Limit Tobacco Use

On September 22, according to N1 Info, Croatia is conducting a public consultation on a new legislative proposal aimed at restricting the use of tobacco and related products, particularly banning the sale of nicotine pouches to minors. The public consultation phase will continue until September 24.

In previous discussions, experts have pointed out that existing laws do not fully consider the potential harm of products during classification. Last November, Croatian Health Minister Beroš stated that due to a lack of clear definition of nicotine pouches, the law has not yet regulated the sale of such products to minors. He revealed that the government is actively seeking legislative solutions.

Beris stated in mid-November 2023 that Croatia's goal is to "limit the use of all harmful substances.

He emphasized, "When someone tries to circumvent regulations, they will invent new products that do not belong to any existing category. Our task is to find ways to stop this behavior and develop legislative solutions that address this issue.

Recently, Bezos announced that new legislation may include the possibility of implementing temporary sales bans on new products if they are found to be harmful to health. These temporary bans could last up to 12 months, as stated in the proposed amendment to the draft.

At the end of 2023, the Croatian Institute of Public Health (HZJZ) issued a statement warning of the dangers of nicotine pouches to children. The statement pointed out that one nicotine pouch contains 20 milligrams of nicotine, equivalent to the dose in a pack of cigarettes. Exposure to nicotine can cause various adverse reactions, including elevated blood pressure and heart rate, as well as symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, drooling, and slow heart rate. These physiological reactions may pose health risks to children, adolescents, and non-smokers who are more susceptible.

In addition to nicotine pouches, the revised legislation is expected to completely ban the use of heated tobacco products indoors in Croatia, as well as smoking. Dr. Miodrag Benes, a physician in Virovitica, suggests that the regulations should also specifically prohibit the use of snuff, e-cigarette products, other electronic nicotine delivery systems, and hookahs.

The European Commission has defined "heated tobacco products" in an authorization directive that took effect in November 2022, describing them as a new type of tobacco product that emits nicotine and other chemical substances through heating. The directive noted that consumption of these products has increased by at least 10% in five member states, including Croatia.