In August, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine presented the Draft Government Action Plan, which provides for four strategic areas of change: security, economy, dignity, and recovery. Twelve priorities for 2025–2026 are envisaged for their implementation.

The public organisation “Life” has submitted its proposals, which primarily concern the preservation of the health of the Ukrainian population and aim to overcome the human and economic losses caused by the epidemic of tobacco and nicotine use in Ukraine.

Why is this important

Every year in Ukraine, 100,000 people die from diseases caused by tobacco use. That is one in five deaths in the country. The economic losses from the tobacco epidemic amount to 3.2% of GDP annually.

According to WHO data, 18% of children aged 13-15 use tobacco products, and 20% use electronic cigarettes. In the 18-29 age group, tobacco and nicotine consumption reaches 45%. This poses a serious threat to Ukraine’s demographic and economic development.

Key proposals from the NGO “Life”

The NGO “Life” has proposed a set of measures aimed at overcoming the epidemic of tobacco and nicotine use in Ukraine, primarily among children and young people, which contribute to overcoming the demographic, social, and economic crises that have intensified with the new phase of Russia’s war against Ukraine. The proposed activities are in line with Ukraine’s international commitments, namely the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, and contain European integration provisions for Ukraine’s accession to the EU.

1. Reducing the availability of tobacco products by increasing excise taxes

• Harmonise excise taxes on tobacco products for electric heating (TPEH) to the level of cigarettes.
• Intensify the increase in excise taxes to €120 per 1,000 cigarettes/TPEH/cigars by 2028.

2. Strengthening law enforcement and anti-corruption measures

• Implement transparency policies in accordance with Article 5.3 of the WHO FCTC to prevent the tobacco industry from influencing public health policy-making.
• Ensure proper implementation of health protection legislation by the executive branch.

3. Strengthening the implementation of the WHO FCTC

• Prohibiting the display of tobacco and nicotine products in retail outlets and advertising of tobacco heating devices (represented in Ukraine by products such as glo, iQOS, Ploom).
• Introducing graphic warnings on the packaging of all tobacco and nicotine products.
• Prohibition of flavored tobacco products in accordance with Directive 2014/40/EU, which will protect consumers, especially young people, from misleading flavors and aromas (fruits, sweets, etc.) that are not characteristic of harmful tobacco.
• Prohibition of the sale of electronic cigarettes and nicotine snus, which are mainly consumed by children and young people.

4. Ratification of the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products.

The proposed steps will contribute to implementing the Decree of the President of Ukraine “On the Sustainable Development Goals of Ukraine for the period up to 2030” and the Strategy for Demographic Development of Ukraine for the period up to 2040 by reducing premature disability and mortality from diseases caused by tobacco and nicotine use and increasing life expectancy in Ukraine.

According to calculations by the Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies, a uniform increase in excise taxes on cigarettes, cigarillos, and tobacco products to €120 per 1,000 units by 2028 will save an additional 100,000 lives from premature mortality and provide an additional UAH 224 billion to the state budget.

In the context of a deep demographic crisis, such decisions are necessary to preserve and restore human capital, which is a matter of national security and sustainability.