On July 26, 2017, the Parliament of Georgia made amendments to the Law of Georgia on Tobacco Control and the Code of Administrative Offenses under simplified procedure in the first reading, as a result of which, the norms regulating realization/placement of tobacco products in standardized packaging shall take effect on 31 December 2022 instead of 1 January 2018.

The Public Defender of Georgia disapproves similar amendment to the legislation. We hope that other positive changes made to the Law of Georgia on Tobacco Control in the spring of 2017 (prohibition of tobacco smoking in the closed institutions, prohibition of direct and indirect advertising and promotion of tobacco, the rule of necessary health warnings on tobacco products, etc.) will take effect within the prescribed time. Otherwise, the Public Defender of Georgia considers that protection of the Georgian population, especially juveniles, from the harmful effects of tobacco will be postponed for many years, which will eventually negatively affect the health of the population. The Public Defender of Georgia will continue to monitor the implementation of the tobacco control legislation in the country in the future too.