The Turkish Ministry of Health has drafted a regulatory framework to end the sale and supply of all tobacco products by January 1, 2040. The proposal, scheduled for high-level review at the Presidential Complex this month, establishes immediate retail and public restrictions ahead of the full phaseout.
Legislative Roadmap and Key Approvals
Following initial review at the Presidency, the ruling AKP parliamentary group will examine the text in October. Lawmakers plan to introduce the measure to the Parliamentary Health Commission in November before sending it to the General Assembly for a final vote.
Strict Retail Rules and Packaging Standards
The proposal introduces immediate restrictions on retail display and branding. Cigarette packaging will follow standardized shapes and dimensions, with all brand logos and promotional symbols removed entirely.
Retailers will be barred from displaying tobacco openly, requiring products to remain stored in enclosed, opaque cabinets. Transactions will require identity authentication through electronic age verification terminals to block underage sales.
Expanded Smoking Bans in Public and Dining Areas
Outdoor smoking prohibitions will expand under the new policy. Tobacco consumption will be banned in children’s playgrounds, outdoor sports facilities, and public beaches. Buffer zones surrounding schools, hospitals, public administrative buildings, and places of worship will also be enlarged.
Food and beverage businesses will face strict venue rules. Smoking will be limited to unserviced, isolated booths that do not exceed 20 square meters or 10% of total floor space. Hotels will be restricted to designated, isolated guest rooms set aside exclusively for tobacco users.