Moldova advances health regulations amid business pushback

Moldova's government is advancing several public health and regulatory reforms, encountering resistance from business sectors. Parliament approved the first reading of legislation tightening regulations on tobacco and electronic cigarettes, imposing updated packaging warnings and stricter disclosure obligations for manufacturers. Concurrently, health officials criticized tobacco producer Philip Morris for launching nicotine pouches ahead of a scheduled June 2026 ban, despite company claims that sales are permitted until 2027.

Separately, a Ministry of Health audit of the Medicines and Medical Devices Agency uncovered over 1,200 unexamined files and database vulnerabilities. Meanwhile, non-alcoholic beverage producers urged officials to abandon a planned 2027 excise tax of 1.60 lei per liter, warning of price increases reaching 34 percent.

Sources: Moldova1, Newsmaker, Point, Ziarul de Gardă.