Armenia

Armenia became a Party to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control on February 27, 2005.

Smoke Free Places

Smoking is prohibited in indoor public places and indoor workplaces, except for airports and residential psychiatric care facilities, which are permitted to have designated smoking areas. Smoking is prohibited in public transport except for water and rail transport, which are permitted to have designated smoking areas.

Tobacco Advertising, Promotion and Sponsorship

There is a comprehensive ban on tobacco advertising and promotion, with a few exceptions. Unpaid depiction of tobacco products and use is prohibited in children’s programming but permitted in other programming, provided there is a health warning. Product display (although with no consumer access) is allowed at duty-free shops in airports. All forms of tobacco sponsorship are prohibited.

Tobacco Packaging and Labeling

Text-only health warnings are required to cover at least 30 percent of the two principal display areas of the tobacco product packaging. Misleading terms such as “light” and “low tar” are prohibited on tobacco packaging, but other misleading packaging (e.g., colors, numbers, and symbols) are not prohibited.

Armenia, as part of the Eurasian Economic Union, has adopted stricter regulations on tobacco product packaging and labeling, which will fully enter into force for Armenia on January 1, 2024. In addition, Armenia will require plain packaging of tobacco products beginning January 1, 2024.

Cigarette Contents and Disclosures

The law regulates specified contents of cigarettes, including banning mint; some herbs; and other flavorings. The law requires that manufacturers and importers disclose to government authorities information on the contents and emissions of their products.

Sales Restrictions

The law prohibits the sale of single cigarettes, chewing tobacco, vending machine sales, and the sale of tobacco products in educational facilities, healthcare facilities, stadiums and arenas, cultural facilities, youth sport organizations, population social protection institutions, and state and local government facilities. However, there are no restrictions on tobacco sales via the internet. The sale of tobacco products is prohibited to persons under the age of 18.

E-Cigarettes

The sale of e-cigarettes is allowed. The restrictions on smoking and tobacco, advertising, promotion, and sponsorship also apply to e-cigarettes. Text-only health warnings are required 30 percent of the front side of e-cigarette product packaging. The sale of e-cigarettes is prohibited to persons under the age of 18, as well as by vending machine and in certain locations.

Roadmap to Tobacco Control Legislation

The Law on Reduction and Prevention of the Damage Caused by the Use of Tobacco Products and Substitutions for Them (2020) is the primary legislation on tobacco control and governs smoke free places; tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship; tobacco packaging and labeling; and sales restrictions. The law has since been amended twice, mostly recently in March 2022. The law replaces the Law on Restrictions on the Sale, Consumption and Use of Tobacco of December 24, 2004. The law also applies to e-cigarettes, which are defined as tobacco substitutes.

The Law on Advertising (as amended) governs advertising generally, and specifically prohibits tobacco advertising.

Decision No. 219 of March 5, 2015 (as amended) establishes the health warnings and other packaging and labeling requirements, replacing the requirements contained in Resolution No. 540-N on Approving the Technical Regulation of Tobacco. Decision No. 219 also regulates contents and emissions.

The Administrative Offenses Code contains penalty provisions for smoke free, tobacco packaging and labeling, advertising, and sales restrictions violations.

Review Status

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