The President of the Republic promulgated a decree transposing the European Heated Tobacco Directive

This Friday, the President of the Republic promulgated a parliamentary decree that repeals the European Union directive to remove certain exemptions applicable to heated tobacco products, “strengthening standards” for the prevention and control of smoking.

On November 28, a working group on tobacco established in Parliament approved the introduction of a European directive into Portuguese legislation, which Portugal had to adopt urgently under penalty of penalties for non-compliance, leaving issues related to health promotion and the sale of tobacco products unaddressed.

On the same day, several organizations called on the sovereign authorities to make “every effort” to transpose, as soon as possible, the European directive that equates heated tobacco with regular tobacco, regularizing Portugal’s position before the European Union.

The following day, the Portuguese Society of Pulmonology (SPP) expressed “strong outrage” at the outcome of the political negotiations on the proposed tobacco law, saying its “destruction” was once again a victory for the tobacco industry.

On November 30, Parliament approved the final text, which transposes into national law the 2022 European Commission directive strengthening standards aimed at preventing and controlling smoking.

The document presented by the Health Commission regarding the proposed tobacco law No. 88/XV/1 received positive votes from PS, PSD, PCP and Livre.

Chega voted against, while the Liberal Initiative and the Left Bloc abstained.

The new tobacco law included only equating e-cigarettes with traditional tobacco, as well as proposals to ban the sale and consumption of tobacco near schools, at gas stations or on terraces with some lighting.