Slovenia: Plain Tobacco Packaging Obligatory as of January 1, 2020

Upon expiration of the transitional period, the plain packaging provisions of the Act on the Restriction on the Use of Tobacco and Related Products (“Tobacco Act”) became applicable in Slovenia on January 1, 2020.

With the Tobacco Act, in force as of March 11, 2017, Slovenia had implemented the Directive 2014/40/EU (“Tobacco Products Directive”), including its plain packaging provisions which were not mandatory. Slovenia opted to introduce them and joined the group of countries with the most restrictive rules on tobacco product packaging.

The plain tobacco packaging and individual cigarette appearance are regulated by the provisions of Article 18 (cigarette packaging), Article 19 (roll-your-own tobacco packaging) and Article 20 (cigarette appearance) of the Tobacco Act. The Rules on the Uniform Packaging of Tobacco Products, which entered into force on January 1, 2020, further specify the requirements regarding the appearance of individual cigarettes and cigarette and roll-your-own tobacco packaging.

During the summer of 2019, there were attempts by the relevant bodies to delay application of the plain packaging provisions for another three years, but these initiatives were not successful.

Prepared by: Maja Žnidarič Plevnik

For more information, please contact slovenia@petosevic.com.

Source: Slovenian legal information system website pisrs.si