Stricter sales and advertising rules for tobacco products from October
Stricter sales, advertising and notification regulations for tobacco products and electronic cigarettes will apply in Switzerland from October 1. The Federal Council has brought the new Tobacco Products Act into force on this date. Further tightening could follow.
The measures that will apply from October include a uniform nationwide ban on sales to young people under the age of 18 and stricter advertising restrictions, for example on posters, on public transport, in cinemas, in publicly accessible buildings such as train stations and airports and on sports grounds. Tobacco products of all kinds may no longer be advertised there. Wherever there is already a smoking ban, this will now also apply to heated products and electronic cigarettes. There will also be new pictorial warnings on tobacco packaging, for example.
In addition, the sponsorship of events with an international character or for an underage audience is no longer permitted, as the Federal Council announced on Wednesday. This includes music festivals, for example. The distribution of free samples is prohibited, as are competitions with corresponding gifts.
These nationwide rules are considered the minimum standard. The cantons can still issue stricter rules in the areas of advertising, sales promotion and sponsorship, as stated further.
The goal: better protection for minors
According to the Federal Council, the Tobacco Products Act is intended to protect the population, especially minors, from the harmful effects of tobacco and nicotine consumption. The sales ban in the Tobacco Products Act is intended to prevent minors from buying a product that is harmful to their health and becoming addicted to it.
Whether there will soon be further tightening is still uncertain. Parliament is currently debating the revision of the Tobacco Products Act. The reason for this is the "Yes to protecting children and young people from tobacco advertising" initiative, which was approved by the people and cantons in February 2022. It calls for tobacco advertising to be banned where it reaches children and young people.
According to the Federal Council's draft, advertising is to be banned in print media, at kiosks and, under certain conditions, on the internet and at festivals. The National Council and Council of States are struggling with implementation. A solution with majority support that conforms to the constitution is not yet in sight. (SDA/swi)
