The Slovak Ministry of Health is addressing the rising use of nicotine products among young people. It has stated that it is aware of calls for stricter regulation and emphasized that protecting public health and patients remains its top priority. The statement came in response to a call by the Commissioner for Children to ban the online sale of nicotine products.
The ministry also noted that it is tackling the issue through legislation. It is currently preparing a bill to ban the sale of flavoured nicotine products and disposable electronic cigarettes. However, the Ministry of Finance objected to the proposal during the comment period, claiming it would have a negative impact on the state budget. The Ministry of Health confirmed that discussions with the Ministry of Finance on this matter are ongoing.
Children's Commissioner Jozef Mikloško called for a ban on the online sale of nicotine products, pointing out that children can access them without supervision. He urged ministries and members of the National Council of the Slovak Republic to focus as soon as possible on adopting effective legislative measures to prevent the sale of addictive substances to children. Above all, he emphasized the need for functional and effective age verification.
Source: TASR
