Azerbaijani parliament approves tobacco advertising ban

The Azerbaijani Parliament (Milli Majlis) on Tuesday approved amendments to the 20th article of a bill "On tobacco and tobacco products."

All cigarette advertising and promotion of tobacco, tobacco products and accessories, including tobacco pipes, hookahs, electronic cigarettes, cigarette paper and cigarette lighters will be banned under the new amendments.

The legislation will also prevent tobacco companies and sellers from sponsoring various events.

Head of the Agrarian Policy Committee of Azerbaijani Parliament Eldar Ibrahimov earlier said that the new amendments are aimed at ensuring healthy lifestyles and the prevention of the harmful effects of tobacco.

Ibrahimov said that a ban on tobacco advertising and tobacco products will not impede development of tobacco growing industry in Azerbaijan.

"These legislative amendments should not be expounded as a sanction against the development of the tobacco growing sector," he pointed out.

He stressed that earlier the Milli Majlis adopted amendments to the Code on Administrative Offences, providing for penalties for smoking in public places.

Tobacco in Azerbaijan is represented by a small number of international companies. Imported products represent some 88 percent of cigarettes in Azerbaijan. Local manufacturers account for the remaining 12 percent, producing 1.8 billion cigarettes in 2015.

Tobacco production in Azerbaijan is concentrated in the Sheki-Zagatala economic region. Endi