Romania became a Party to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control on April 27, 2006.

Smoke Free Places: Smoking is prohibited on public transport and in nearly all indoor public places and indoor workplaces. The law provides for only two exceptions to the ban – for detention spaces where detainees are held and designated rooms in the transit areas of international airports.

Tobacco Advertising, Promotion and Sponsorship: The law prohibits most forms of direct advertising, including TV, radio, print media, and outdoor advertising. However, the law allows point of sale advertising in areas dedicated exclusively to the sale of tobacco products within commercial establishments. The law does not address directly tobacco promotion and, therefore, most forms of tobacco promotion are permitted. Tobacco sponsorship is prohibited for events or activities with cross-border effects, or which involve or take place in at least two member states of the European Union, one of which is Romania; events and activities intended for youth under 18 years of age; and events and activities that take place at medical facilities or at medico-pharmaceutical educational facilities. Tobacco sponsorship of other types of events or activities, including corporate social responsibility programs, is allowed.

Tobacco Packaging and Labeling: Smoked tobacco products must display one of 14 combined (text and picture) health warnings, occupying 65 percent of the front and back of the package. A general warning must occupy 50 percent of one lateral surface of the package and an information message must occupy 50 percent of the other lateral surface. There are three sets of 14 authorized combined warnings, which are to be rotated annually. There is one required text-only warning for smokeless tobacco products, which must cover at least 30 percent of the two most visible display areas. Misleading packaging and labeling, which could include terms such as “light” and “low tar” and other signs, is prohibited.

Tobacco Taxation and Prices: The World Health Organization recommends raising tobacco excise taxes so that they account for at least 70 percent of retail prices. Tobacco excise taxes in Romania are below these recommendations.