Latvia became a Party to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control on May 11, 2005.

Smoke Free Places: The law prohibits smoking in most workplaces and public places. However, designated smoking areas are permitted in several places, including prisons, hotel guest rooms, casinos, games rooms, and departure halls of international airports. The law prohibits smoking in most public transport but allows smoking on long-distance trains and passenger ships in separate smoking cars or cabins.

Tobacco Advertising, Promotion and Sponsorship: The law generally prohibits the advertising of tobacco products, with some exceptions for cross-border communications outside of the European Union. Product display is prohibited except at duty-free shops, ships on international voyages, and specialist shops exclusively selling tobacco. There are some restrictions on tobacco sponsorship and the publicity of such sponsorship.

Tobacco Packaging and Labeling: On smoked tobacco products, the law requires rotating pictorial health warnings to cover 65 percent of the front and back of the pack. On smokeless tobacco products, the law requires a text-only health warning to cover 30 percent of the two largest surfaces of the pack. Misleading packaging and labeling, which could include terms such as “light” and “low tar” and other signs, is prohibited.

Tobacco Taxation and Prices: The World Health Organization recommends raising tobacco excise taxes so that they account for at least 70 percent of retail prices. Tobacco excise taxes in Latvia are below these recommendations.