The First Deputy Head of the State Committee on Standardization and Consumer Policy (DerzhSpozhyvStandard), Yuriy Shyrko, reminded of the amendments to the law on preventing and reducing the use of tobacco goods that had taken effect in Ukraine on July 11, 2009. If minimum 50% of cafe, restaurants and drinking house areas are not protected from tobacco smoke, their owners could be imposed fines of UAH 1,000 to UAH 10,000 (USD 1 - UAH 7.6865), he said, UkrInform reported.
However, the official added that in view of operation of a moratorium on various inspections in Ukraine, state agencies will check catering enterprises on violation of smoking rules only upon consumer complaints.
Under the new law, smoking is prohibited in trains, municipal transport, taxi, at airports and stations, near educational, medical institutions. It also envisages no less than half of 'no smoking' rooms and sections in hotels and restaurants.
