Russian Duma Rejects Proposal to Expand Public Smoking Bans
The State Duma, Russia’s lower house of parliament, has rejected a bill that proposed banning smoking at public transport stops and near building entrances during a plenary session, according to TASS news agency.
Deputies from the LDPR party had proposed increasing the list of places where smoking tobacco or consuming nicotine-containing products is prohibited. They aimed to ban smoking at public transport stops and within five meters of them, as well as near stores and other organizations located in multi-apartment buildings.
The State Duma’s Committee on Health Protection noted in its conclusion that the explanatory note to the bill lacked data “on the insufficient effectiveness of existing bans on smoking tobacco or consuming nicotine-containing products in certain territories.” Furthermore, the committee pointed out that regional authorities have the right to establish additional restrictions on smoking tobacco, consuming nicotine-containing products, or using hookahs in some public places.
According to the committee’s conclusion, difficulties may arise when bringing violators to administrative responsibility under the proposed bans due to the challenge of determining the boundaries of areas where smoking is prohibited.
The State Duma had previously rejected a bill on defining windfallen wood and specifying the tools that can be used to collect it.
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