http://bbj.hu/economy/hungary-regulates-cigarette-market-further_122940
Regulation of electronic cigarettes will further strengthen in Hungary as e-cigarettes and related products are expected to be treated the same as regular tobacco products in Hungary, under a bill Cabinet Chief János Lázár submitted to Parliament Tuesday, according to Hungarian news agency MTI.
If the bill is approved by Parliament, e-cigarettes could only be sold in licensed tobacco shops, the text of the bill says, according to MTI, which apparently means that only national tobacco shops will be eligible to sell such products.
The text of the bill says the regulatory changes aim to reduce smoking in Hungary, especially among the younger generation, while the country is required to comply with certain European Union directives.
The bill Lázár submitted would also abolish a progressive healthcare contribution tobacco companies must pay, after the European Commission expressed concerns in July related to the discriminatory nature of the contribution.
Hungary will soon introduce plain and uniform cigarette packaging and ban the distribution of flavored tobacco products. Under a decree published earlier this week, retailers of e-cigarettes will be required to pay additional fees.