Turkey Moves to Ban Slim Cigarettes and Enforce Plain Packaging

The Turkish Ministry of Health has submitted an amendment to Tobacco Law No. 4207 to the Grand National Assembly (TBMM), aiming to eliminate slim cigarettes and enforce plain packaging across the country. Following review by the Health Commission, the general assembly will vote on the proposed measures in October.

Phasing Out Slim Cigarettes and Concealing Retail Displays

The draft gives manufacturers and retailers a six-month transition window to clear existing stocks and adapt production lines for slim and super-slim cigarettes. Once this period expires, the production, import, and sale of slim formats will be banned entirely. Health experts point out that the thin structure and filter design encourage deeper inhalation, driving up addiction rates among youth and women.

Under the proposed rules aligned with World Health Organization guidelines, all tobacco packs must adopt uniform fonts and neutral colors, removing brand logos while keeping graphic health warnings over 65% of the package. Retailers, including grocers and coffeehouses, must keep tobacco inventory in closed cabinets to enforce a visual ban at point of sale.

Equating Alternative Nicotine Products with Traditional Cigarettes

The draft subjects electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco devices to identical legal restrictions as combustible tobacco, prohibiting all advertising, promotions, and sponsorships. The bill also expands outdoor smoking bans to sports facilities, playgrounds, public transport stops, and hospital courtyards, granting provincial governors the authority to shut down businesses that repeatedly violate these regulations.

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Matthew Ma

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With over a decade of experience in the e-cigarette industry, Matthew Ma is a seasoned expert in both the manufacturing and usage aspects of vaping products. His extensive background has provided him with a deep understanding of the intricacies and evolving dynamics of e-cigarettes.