Employers’ group attacks health minister’s tobacco bill

The Association of Employers (FA) has strongly criticised draft legislation from Iceland’s health minister on tobacco and nicotine controls, mbl.is reports. The draft was published in the public consultation portal earlier this summer.

In its submission, FA objects to giving the State Alcohol and Tobacco Store, which both produces and sells tobacco products, broad powers to monitor and intervene against producers and importers competing directly with it and its products.

FA also says the draft gives the health minister excessively broad powers through regulatory provisions to interfere with constitutionally protected rights, including freedom to pursue a business, property rights and freedom of expression.

“FA supports the draft’s aim of protecting public health and reducing the use of tobacco and nicotine products among children and young people. In the association’s view, however, the draft goes considerably further than necessary in several areas and introduces burdensome and poorly justified restrictions that may conflict with fundamental principles of the constitution and EEA law,” the association said.