Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan became a Party to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control on January 30, 2006.

Smoke Free Places

Smoking is prohibited in healthcare facilities, educational facilities, cultural centers, taxis, and airplanes. Smoking is restricted to designated smoking areas in all other indoor public places, indoor workplaces, and public transport.

Tobacco Advertising, Promotion and Sponsorship

Tobacco advertising and promotion is banned with a few exceptions such as point of sale product display.  All forms of tobacco sponsorship are prohibited.

Tobacco Packaging and Labeling

A text-only health warning is required to cover 30 percent of the front and back of the package. There is no requirement for rotation, and there is only one required health warning. Misleading packaging and labeling, including terms such as “light” and “mild,” is prohibited.

Cigarette Contents

The law does not grant the authority to regulate the contents of cigarettes. 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 tobacco products via vending machine and in educational facilities, healthcare facilities, cultural facilities and places where children and adolescents' goods are sold. The law also prohibits the sale of single cigarettes. However, there are no restrictions on the sale of small packets of cigarettes or 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 subject to restrictions under the law. The restrictions on smoking and tobacco advertising, promotion, and sponsorship apply to e-cigarettes as well. As a result, the use of e-cigarettes is prohibited in healthcare facilities, educational facilities, cultural centers, taxis, and airplanes, but restricted to designated smoking areas in all other indoor public places, indoor workplaces, and public transport. Direct and indirect advertising, promotion, and sponsorship of e-cigarettes are prohibited. Health warnings are not required on e-cigarette packaging.

Roadmap to Tobacco Control Legislation

Law No. 887-VQ on Restriction of Tobacco Use was passed in 2017 and is the primary tobacco control law. It regulates smoke free places and tobacco advertising, promotion, and sponsorship. E-cigarettes are treated as tobacco products under this law. Decision No. 127 contains requirements for designated smoking areas. Tobacco advertising, promotion, and sponsorship are also regulated by the Law on Advertising and the Law on Television and Radio Broadcasting.

Law No. 138-IIG on Tobacco and Tobacco Products was passed in 2001 and includes provisions regulating production, import, export, and sales. In addition, the law contains some packaging and labeling requirements. Further requirements are detailed in Standard AZS No. 335-2009 on Tobacco Products – Packaging and Marking. 

Penalties for violations are contained in the Code on Administrative Offenses.

Review Status

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