Law banning cigarette advertising comes into force in Ukraine

The law banning the advertisement, sponsorship and stimulation of tobacco sales in Ukraine came into force on Sunday, September 16, 2012.

The Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's parliament, passed the relevant bill on September 22, 2011 and the president signed it into law on March 13, 2012.

In line with the law the advertising of tobacco products, trademarks and services, other intellectual property rights under which tobacco goods are produced have been banned on radio and television, including cable, satellite, IP, on-line, mobile, digital, and other signal transmission modes.

The advertising of tobacco is also prohibited in scientific, popular, educational, political, reference and fiction publications, including all printed media, in transport, in the streets, at public places and in the Internet.

The law bans sponsorship involving advertisements of tobacco goods and using the names of manufacturers, importers and retailers of tobacco goods of TV and radio programs, concerts, athletic and cultural events and entertainments.