Health Minister Mehmet Müezzinoğlu declared that the smoking ban would spread to open areas as well, and that the new black cigarette packs lacking brands and logos would begin October 1st.
The governorates instead of the district governorates will be in charge of the inspections and so the police will conduct them instead of the gendarmerie, according to the new regulation.
Müezzinoğlu said that Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan “gave the order for the new interdiction and inspections on tobacco use to start as soon as possible,” wrote Milliyet newspaper’s Abdullah Karakuş in his news item.
“The final version of the 2014-2018 Anti-Tobacco Strategy Report was prepared and sent to the Prime Ministry. The last touches are being made at the moment. The new interdiction and inspections concerning smoking will begin on October 1, 2014 with regulations on packs. The latest start date, if the legal regulations are not completed by that time, was set as January 1, 2015.”
Black pack
Müezzinoğlu said that Turkey would be the first country in Europe and Asia to use the black pack practice that has only been imposed by Australia in 2012.
The Minister, saying, “We will start the practice on October 1, no matter who sues us,” explained the regulation as follows:
“Cigarette packs will be a single solid color. Their brands and logos will be wiped out. They will be sold not with their names, but with their code numbers. This way, cigarette packs will not constitute an attractive perception for children. Communications experts continue their work on the black pack.”
Open space
Müezzinoğlu said that smoking would be restricted in hospital gardens and schoolyards and park, cafe and restaurants’ open areas.
“Only a quarter of the tables in open spaces will be reserved for smokers. The delegation of three quarters to non-smokers will be a legal obligation. Those not in compliance will incur the smoking penalties imposed in closed spaces. Smoking inspections will be taken from district governorates and given over to governors. That way, the police will conduct the inspections instead of the gendarmes.” (BK)
