“The process of the freedom from tobacco has already started in Georgia and it is irreversible. This process naturally will be lobbied by the Health Care and Social Issues Committee and the adequate attitude of Georgia makes me be optimistic seeing their tolerance. Fewer smokers and more healthy citizens – this is a necessary condition for our country since we encounter the demographic problems and thus, we put our obligation to a higher stake to protect the health of our population and maximally mitigate the damage of tobacco”, - the Chair of the Health Care and Social Issues Committee, Dimitri Khundadze stated at the sitting of the Scientific-Advisory Council on Health Facilitation and Disease Prevention where the parties discussed the issues related to the standardized packaging and the development of the normative act.

As he stated, it was always a priority for the Government to ensure the health of the citizens and this, the Committee not only shares but on a daily basis exercises the oversight function.

The Law on Tobacco Control is one of the successful and necessary Bills, he noted.

The First Deputy Health Minister, Tamar Gabunia introduced the "Intermediate Report on Development of the Normative Act on Standardized Packaging of Tobacco Product – problems, challenges and the situational review”.

According to her, the enforcement of the Law is essential for the prevention of certain diseases since the Law establishes the obligation of the standardized packaging of tobacco products and hence, mitigation of the attraction of tobacco product, the efficiency of the medical warning etc.

As the reporter noted, the sale of tobacco without standardized packaging shall be prohibited as of January 1, 2023, under the Draft Technical Regulations on Standardization of Tobacco Product and its Packaging for Sale in Georgia. The Draft has almost been finalized and the prohibition is in full compliance with the Frame Convention on Tobacco Control and is also reflected in the State Strategy and Action Plan for 2021-2025. The Draft is in compliance with the EU legal acts. The emphasis is made on mitigation of the attraction of tobacco products, elimination of promotion and advertising of tobacco through packaging, evasion of the impression of the users that allegedly any of the tobacco products are less hazardous etc.

“We expect these changes to further mitigate the number of smokers, which will have a positive effect on the public health in the country”, - she stated.

According to WHO representative, these changes are timely – by them, Georgia establishes stricter rules on tobacco packaging, pictograms etc. He congratulated the Parliament on the adoption of the legal changes in December prohibiting smoking in a taxi.

As D. Khundadze stated, this process is accelerated with the active and positive engagement of WHO. He thanked every actor for their participation.

The sitting was attended by MPs, representatives of the Health Ministry; Finance Ministry; Foreign Ministry; Economic Ministry; Disease Control Center; Georgian Patent; WHO; professional associations, governmental, international organizations, NGOs and field experts.