site.btaParliament Moves to Ban Marketing, Sales of Products Containing Narcotic Substances

Parliament on Wednesday, voted unanimously, 200-0, to adopt measures to prevent and ban the marketing, supply and sale of products containing narcotic substances, precursors or their analogues. The bill was submitted by parliamentary healthcare committee chair Kostadin Angelov (GERB-UDF) and a group of MPs.

The main focus is on a need to draft and adopt legislative changes to regulate the ban of marketing, supply and sale of such products, as well as the creation of mechanisms for effective control by the competent authorities.

24-hour monitoring should be implemented by the Interior Ministry to control the marketing, supply and sale of nitrous oxide (laughing gas) and products, including electronic cigarettes, electronic vape devices, chewing gum, candy, chocolates and others containing narcotic substances, precursors or their analogues on the Internet and to inform the competent authorities to take appropriate action.

Within one month of the adoption of this decision, the Interior Minister is obliged to draw up a detailed list of all Internet sites that market and sell laughing gas and products, including electronic cigarettes, electronic vape devices, chewing gum, candy, chocolates and others, containing narcotic substances, precursors or their analogues, the deputies voted.

The Ministers of Interior and Healthcare will have to prepare and submit to the National Assembly a report of all inspections carried out so far by the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Health on the advertising, supply and sale of laughing gas and products containing narcotic substances.

According to the decision, within one month the Minister of Interior and the Minister of Health should prepare and submit to the National Assembly legislative amendments that would regulate the ban on marketing and sale of products, including electronic cigarettes, vape devices, chewing gum, candy, etc., containing narcotic substances, as well as the establishment of mechanisms for effective control by the competent authorities.

The Parliament obliged the Minister of Education and the Minister of Health to prepare and submit to the Council of Ministers within two months a National Programme for Health Education in the Pre-school and School Education System, which should include the promotion of healthy lifestyle and awareness-raising on the harmful effects of alcohol, laughing gas, tobacco products, etc.