Bosnia and Herzegovina enacts anti-smoking law

On May 25, 2022, the President of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina signed into law a bill aimed at reducing tobacco consumption and protecting younger generations from tobacco addiction. While the new legislation may have been partially weakened by lobbying efforts by the tobacco industry, it remains welcomed by public health stakeholders.

The new law in Bosnia and Herzegovina now prohibits smoking in most enclosed public places, workplaces, and on public transportation. These smoking bans have also been extended to private vehicles, in the presence of minors. Outside of the point of sale, tobacco advertising and promotion are now prohibited. Furthermore, the new legislation requires the display of health warnings on all tobacco products. Finally, the sale of cigarettes containing flavors or additives is prohibited, and a federal tobacco control commission has been established in the country.[1].

A bill partially weakened by tobacco industry lobbying

As Tobacco Free Kids points out, the tobacco industry strongly opposed this bill and, with the support of allies, organized itself to propose amendments aimed at weakening the initial bill, which was supported by the tobacco control community. This lobbying effort paid off, as heated tobacco is exempt from smoking bans in enclosed public places, designated smoking areas have been maintained in some public places, and tobacco advertising is still permitted at points of sale.

Epidemic levels recorded in Bosnia and Herzegovina

While the draft tobacco control law is incomplete, it should nonetheless help reverse the tobacco epidemic in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which is lagging far behind in this area. According to the World Health Organization, in 2019, 38.31 TYP3T of the adult population in the country smoked. Among men, smoking prevalence is particularly high (46.31 TYP3T), but also among women (30.21 TYP3T). These unprecedented levels of consumption translate into a high human cost: one in four deaths in Bosnia and Herzegovina is attributable to tobacco consumption.[2].

FT

[1] Tobacco Free Kids, Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Approves a Strong Law to Save Lives and Protect Youth from Tobacco, 05/26/2022, (accessed 05/30/2022)

[2] Global state of tobacco harm reduction, Tobacco smoking in Bosnia and Herzegovina, 2019, (accessed 05/30/2022)

National Committee Against Smoking |