Last Friday, parliament approved changes to the so-called tobacco law. The government’s diploma, which is controversial because of the changes it implements, among other things, with regard to the consumption and sale of tobacco, has not generated consensus within the socialist bank itself.
Of the 110 PS deputies present in the plenary, 14 abstained (including the former Secretary of State for Health, António Lacerda Sales) and two deputies (Alexandra Leitão and Isabel Moreira) voted against.
Chega, the Liberal Initiative and the Left Bloc also took a position against the text, with PSD, PS, Livre and PAN abstaining.
In addition, two bills – from the PAN and Chega initiatives – were also voted on on this subject.
Chega called for a change to the law on images on tobacco packaging labelling. Only PSD and Chega voted in favor; PS and PCP were against it. The other parties abstained from voting.
The PAN proposed an amendment to the so-called “Blessed Law” to ensure greater transparency in its application. It was rejected with negative votes by PS and Chega.
The changes to the Tobacco Act have sparked controversy, with some parliamentarians arguing the changes are too unaffordable and that the priority should be greater access to smoking cessation consultations and reimbursement for medicines for this purpose.
Among other measures, these changes now equate heated tobacco and electronic cigarettes with regular tobacco. There have also been changes to the points of sale and where you can smoke. On Thursday, Secretary of State for Health Promotion Margarida Tavares rejected accusations of bans and said the government instead plans to “regulate” the sector.
The text is now discussed and elaborated in the specialty.
Source: DN
