Market & legal data in the tobacco alternatives sector in Serbia

7th December 2023: Serbia: In a TV interview, the health minister said that smoking restrictions should be strengthened and vaping in enclosed public places should be prohibited. So far, no proposal has been developed by the government. On 17th December, Serbia will hold general elections for the second time within the last two years. If the current coalition stays in power, which is expected, it is possible that over the next few years the government drafts a proposal tackling public usage.
17th August 2023: Serbia: The minister of health, Danica Grujičić, has said the smoking ban in indoor places, including bars and restaurants, will be enacted next year. The media reports that the upcoming restrictions will also stretch to vaping and heated tobacco usage. However, this is yet to be seen, as the proposal hasn't been released for public consultation.
27th April 2023: Serbia: Deputy health minister Jelena Janković has told media the ministry is hoping the smoking ban in cafes and restaurants will be adopted before the end of the year. Previous reports suggested the ban would also extend to vaping and heated tobacco, however as the official proposal has not been made public, it is unclear if the bill might make an exception for tobacco alternatives.
13th March 2023: Serbia: Health minister, Danica Grujičić, told local media that the proposal to amend the Law on the Protection of People from Smoke Exposure will ban both smoking and vaping inside hospitality premises. The proposal has not yet been published. No other changes to the tobacco framework, namely the Tobacco Law, that would regulate e-cigarettes and heated tobacco in other policy areas have been announced.
7th February 2023: Serbia: Speaking at a conference on cancer, health minister Danica Grujičić called for public support for a ban on smoking in enclosed public places. “The Ministry of Finance, which claims that the state makes money from cigarettes, must be pressured. The priority must be people’s health,” she said. Though she belongs to the same governing party as the finance minister, Sinisa Mali, Grujičić is the first health minister in several governments to speak about the need for a public smoking ban. She told the press today that a proposal had already been drawn up to ban smoking in hospitality premises, but that it has yet to be adopted by the government before it goes before the National Assembly. It is not yet clear whether or not the proposal – which has yet to be made public – will tackle vaping.
9th January 2023: Serbia: As of 1st January 2023, heated tobacco is subject to a higher tax rate compared to the previous year. Instead of 60% of the minimum excise tax rate per 1,000 cigarettes determined for the category of the weighted average retail price of cigarettes, the producers will be paying 70%. As per the latest government decision, the weighted average retail price of cigarettes is RSD293.14 (€2.50) per pack and the minimum excise tax is RSD173.49 (€1.47) per pack.

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