From 2025 onwards, the public display of cigarettes and tobacco-related products and equipment in retail establishments will be prohibited, but not limited to the display of products in tobacco shops and counters.
Lithuania strengthens control over tobacco advertising
Recently, the official website of the Lithuanian Drug, Tobacco, and Alcohol Control Agency published a report saying that the Republic of Lithuania will implement a revised version of the law on cigarettes, tobacco products, and related products from the beginning of 2025. The new law amends regulations governing the retail sale of cigarettes and related products. According to Article 151 of the Law, the public display of cigarettes and cigarette-related products and equipment in retail establishments is prohibited.
Lithuania to ban public display of tobacco products from 2025
The ban does not apply to goods sold in tobacco shops and tobacco product counters. Such products can be sold if they are not displayed on exterior Windows or other peripherals in stores or counters.
In addition, Article 17 (1) of the law provides for the prohibition of advertising of tobacco products. Even so, retail establishments are permitted to provide some information about non-advertised features of cigarette products, such as manufacturer information, the name of the cigarette product and related equipment sold, the words “sale” or “sale”, and pricing information for single or multiple packs of cigarette products.
According to the provisions of Article 17 (6) of the Law, such information can only be displayed in the place of sale of cigarette products and related equipment, and it is prohibited to publish in the form of advertising that consumers can take away, such as brochures, leaflets, etc. In addition, copies and images of cigarette products, related products, or their packages and equipment are strictly prohibited in retail establishments. By Article 17, paragraphs 3 and 5, the display of any other unspecified visual or graphic information on retail premises is strictly prohibited.
On Sep 23, 2024, the Minister of Economic Innovation of the Republic of Lithuania issued Directive No. 4-495 detailing the rules for the presentation of information on cigarette products in retail establishments, which will come into force on January 1, 2025.
