Turkish ID Number Requirement Coming for Cigarette Sales
Health Minister Memişoğlu announced that presenting a Turkish ID number will become mandatory for cigarette sales and that a regulation to reduce visibility will be submitted to Parliament.
Health Minister Kemal Memişoğlu announced during a statement at Karantina Island in Urla, İzmir, that a Turkish ID number requirement will be introduced for cigarette sales and that a bill to reduce visibility will be submitted to Parliament within a few weeks.
New Bill to Be Submitted to Parliament
Health Minister Kemal Memişoğlu stated that they will submit a bill to Parliament within a few weeks that will increase awareness regarding cigarettes and tobacco, reduce their visibility, and clarify penal obligations. It was emphasized that the primary objective of the regulation is to eliminate the visibility of cigarettes and the perception that they are natural.
Tobacco Use and Sales Statistics
Stating that approximately 60 percent of deaths in Turkey stem from diseases related to tobacco use, Memişoğlu noted that Turkey ranks second in the world in smoking rates. It was recorded that 8 billion packs of cigarettes were sold across Turkey last year.
Sales Application with Turkish ID Number
Reminding that selling cigarettes to individuals under a certain age is prohibited, Memişoğlu announced that such sales will be ensured to be made by presenting a Turkish ID number. Through this method, it is aimed to clearly record to whom tobacco products are sold.
Café and Restaurant Regulations
Stating that under the current practice, smoking areas in cafés and restaurants are ambiguous, Minister Memişoğlu expressed that with the new regulation, areas where smoking is permitted or prohibited will be determined much more clearly.
Other Developments in the Healthcare Field
Stating that the C-section rate has dropped by 15 percent over the past year thanks to the normal birth action plan, Memişoğlu mentioned ongoing efforts in domestic vaccine, medicine, and medical device production. Additionally, it was conveyed that work is underway to allow holders of prescription reports to directly obtain their prescribed medications without needing to have a doctor rewrite them.