Turkey's Ministry of Health has drafted legislation targeting combustible cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and heated tobacco systems, setting a deadline to end all domestic tobacco sales by 2040. The proposed rules enforce immediate retail crackdowns while removing smoking from public parks, beaches, and dining venues nationwide.
Legislative Timeline and Retail Restrictions
The draft bill will be reviewed during an upcoming meeting at the Presidential Complex before heading to the AK Party parliamentary group in October. Lawmakers plan to advance the bill through the parliamentary Health Commission and the General Assembly in November to enact it into law.
The bill changes how retailers sell tobacco products:
- Products cannot remain visible on open shelves and must stay inside closed, opaque cabinets.
- Retail transactions must require electronic age verification.
- Packaging will be standardized, prohibiting all logos, symbols, or promotional branding.
Shrinking Public Smoking Zones
The draft sharply restricts outdoor and hospitality spaces where tobacco use is permitted. Smoking will be prohibited in children's parks, sports facilities, and public beaches. Buffer zones around schools, hospitals, public offices, and places of worship will also expand.
Hospitality venues face tighter operational rules. Smoking areas cannot exceed 10 percent of an establishment's total area, with a maximum cap of 20 square meters. These sections must remain isolated, concealed from outside view, and operate without food or beverage service. Hotels will only permit smoking in specifically designated guest rooms.
The primary pillar of the legislation takes effect on January 1, 2040, making the sale or commercial distribution of any tobacco product illegal across Turkey.
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