Smoking ban law illustrates Romanian democracy (U.S. ambassador)

U.S. Ambassador Hans Klemm praised on Tuesday the ban on smoking in public indoor places as the best example of the democratic process in Romania, and said the law will improve the health and living standards. He summarized the path from a private initiative against smoking to a coalition based on social media and to the law that, according to him, puts Romania ahead of the United States, where there is no federal regulation on the matter. 

Ambassador Klemm spoke at a conference on the smoking ban at the Marius Nasta Institute for Pulmonology in Bucharest, also attended by Health Minsiter Patriciu Achimas-Cadariu. 

The minister announced a smoke prevention programme to start on 24 February. 

The prohibition of smoking in all public indoor places will enter into force at mid-March. AGERPRES