Slovenia imposes strict smoking restrictions to protect public health

Slovenia has taken significant steps to align its tobacco regulations with the European Union's recommendations aimed at reducing passive smoking exposure. In December 2024, during a meeting in Brussels attended by EU health ministers, Slovenia's Minister of Health Valentina Prevolnik Rupel announced that the country already follows many of the guidelines adopted by the EU. This includes a ban initiated in May 2024 on the sale of flavored heated tobacco products. Looking ahead, a further ban on the sale of flavored electronic cigarettes is set to take effect in April 2025. The measures are part of Slovenia's broader commitment to creating a smoke-free environment, especially for children and vulnerable populations. Additionally, legislation passed in March 2024 eliminated smoking rooms in enclosed public spaces, with these facilities scheduled to be removed by the end of 2025. The updated recommendations from the EU extend further than indoor smoking regulations, encouraging member states to enlarge smoke-free zones in outdoor areas where children and other at-risk groups often gather. Such locations include school zones, healthcare facilities, public transport hubs, playgrounds, swimming pools, and amusement parks. While Slovenia's current measures reflect progress towards these recommendations, Minister Prevolnik Rupel indicated that upcoming changes to extend outdoor smoke-free zones are not part of the government's near-term plans. The minister emphasized the importance of providing a smoke-free environment, highlighting the substantial health risks associated with secondhand smoke and aerosol exposure.