A bill drafted by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture proposed banning menthol cigarettes in 2016, four years earlier than required under the revised EU Tobacco Products Directive (TPD).

In addition to the elimination of the grace period for the ban on menthol products, the bill proposed extending TPD requirements for pictorial health warnings to pipe tobacco, cigars and cigarillos, according to a copy of the bill made available to TJI.
Pending Cabinet and legislative approval, the ministry proposal would also outlaw the advertising of tobacco products on billboards and in cinemas. The distribution of promotional samples would also be prohibited.
The measures go beyond what TPD requires the 28 EU member states adopt into national law by next May.