Albania

Albania became a Party to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control on July 25, 2006.

Smoke Free Places

Smoking is banned in indoor workplaces, indoor public places, and public transport, with the sole exception of mental health institutions, which allow patients to smoke.

Tobacco Advertising, Promotion and Sponsorship

Most forms of tobacco advertising and promotion are banned. Although sponsorship by the tobacco industry is not completely prohibited, publicity of the sponsorship is prohibited.

Tobacco Packaging and Labeling

Combined picture and text warnings must occupy 65 percent of the front and back sides of packaging for smoked tobacco products (excluding cigars, cigarillos and heated tobacco products which have warnings of a different size) and smokeless tobacco (excluding certain forms of tobacco for oral use which cannot be sold in Albania, e.g., snus). The 11 combined warnings must be rotated in a manner so as to “ensure consistent display.” For cigars and cigarillos, the health warnings must cover 30 percent of the two largest sides of the packaging. Misleading packaging and labeling, including terms such as “low tar content,” “light,” “ultra light,” “mild,” and other signs, is prohibited.

Cigarette Contents and Disclosures

The law regulates specified contents of cigarettes, including banning tobacco products with characteristic flavors. The law does not require manufacturers and importers to disclose to government authorities information on the contents or emissions of cigarettes. 

Sales Restrictions

The law prohibits: the sale of single cigarettes and cigarettes in packs of less than 20; sale by vending machine and by internet; the sale of smokeless tobacco products for oral use except oral products that can be inhaled or chewed; and the sale of tobacco products in educational and health facilities and by street vendors. The sale of tobacco products is prohibited to persons under the age of 18.

E-cigarettes

The sale of e-cigarettes is allowed. The use of e-cigarettes is prohibited in indoor public places, workplaces, and public transport, with the sole exception of mental health institutions which allow patients to smoke. Most forms of advertising and promotion of e-cigarettes are banned but some e-cigarette sponsorship is allowed. The law requires e-cigarette packaging to carry warnings intended for specific risk groups, as well as warnings regarding potential side effects, and the level of addictiveness and toxicity. Internet and vending machine sales are prohibited, as are sales in health facilities and educational institutions, and by street vendors. E-cigarette manufacturers and importers must disclose to the Ministry of Health a list of all ingredients in certain products. The sale of e-cigarettes is prohibited to persons under the age of 18.

Heated Tobacco Products

The sale of heated tobacco products (HTPs) is allowed. The use of HTPs is prohibited in public places, workplaces and public transport, with the sole exception of mental health institutions which allow patients to smoke. Most forms of advertising and promotion of HTPs are prohibited but some HTP sponsorship is allowed. HTP packaging must carry a text warning that occupies 30 percent of the two largest surfaces of the package. The sale of HTP is prohibited by vending machine and internet; in health institutions and educational institutions; and by street vendors. HTPs with a characteristic flavor are prohibited. HTP manufacturers and importers must disclose to the Ministry of Health a list of all ingredients in certain products. The sale of HTPs is prohibited to persons under the age of 18. These restrictions apply to HTP inserts; it is unclear if the restrictions apply to HTP devices.

Roadmap to Tobacco Control Legislation

Law No. 9636 on Health Protection from Tobacco Products (as amended) is the primary piece of tobacco control legislation. It governs smoke free places; tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship; tobacco packaging and labeling; tobacco sales restrictions; tobacco product contents, and disclosure requirements for novel tobacco products, HTPs and e-cigarettes. Decisions No. 7 and No. 8 implement the packaging and labeling provisions of Law No. 9636. They set out health warning contents, size and placement for the various types of tobacco products.

Review Status

This country’s legal measures were reviewed by our legal staff. No in-country lawyers or tobacco control experts reviewed our analysis.