Cigarettes in Bulgaria
The prevalence of current smokers in the general population in Bulgaria was the same (at 36%) in 2017 as the prevalence in 2006 (36%). Prevalence has fluctuated only very slightly during this period. These data come from the Eurobarometer surveys, the most recent of which was carried out in 2017. In the most recent survey a total of 27,901 respondents from different social and demographic groups were interviewed face-to-face at home, in their mother tongue, across all 28 of the EU countries. The sample for each country is representative, however the sample sizes are relatively small (e.g. most countries had just over 1000 participants, but for Italy, Malta and Lithuania the sample was around 500). Nevertheless, the Eurobarometer surveys are useful as they have estimates for smoking prevalence collected over a number of years which can show trends, as described here.
Tobacco smoking prevalence
Number of current smokers:
Adult current tobacco smoking prevalence:
Adult current tobacco smoking prevalence (female):
Adult current tobacco smoking prevalence (male):
(1) WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000-2025, third edition. (2019). World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/who-global-report-on-trends-in-prevalence-of-tobacco-use-2000-2025-third-edition. (2) Department of Economic and Social Affairs (Ed.). (2019). World Population Prospects 2019 (Online Edition Rev. 1.; Population Division). United Nations. https://population.un.org/wpp/Download/Standard/Population/
Smoking-related mortality
Annual number of deaths attributable to tobacco smoking:
Annual number of deaths attributable to tobacco smoking (female):
Annual number of deaths attributable to tobacco smoking (male):
Annual percentage of all deaths attributable to tobacco smoking:
Annual percentage of all deaths attributable to tobacco smoking (female):
Annual percentage of all deaths attributable to tobacco smoking (male):
The Tobacco Atlas. Available at: https://tobaccoatlas.org/topic/deaths/ Data source: GBD 2016 Risk Factors Collaborators.
Nicotine Vaping Devices (E-cigarettes) in Bulgaria
Bulgaria abides by the EU Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) (2014). E-cigarettes that contain nicotine are regulated by Decree 89 (to Promulgate the Law on Amending and Supplementing the Law on Tobacco and Tobacco Products), and non-nicotine products are regulated as consumer products. E-cigarettes are regarded as "tobacco-related" rather than tobacco products as such, and are treated more leniently than tobacco. For example: vaping is allowed in areas where smoking is banned; product notification is free-of-charge; and there is no taxation on e-cigarettes. However, distance sales of e-cigarette products are banned.
Product promotion
Advertising is regulated:
Allowed or banned at place of sale or allowed or banned in all media.
Regulation
Regulated as medicinal product:
Regulated as tobacco product:
Data cross-referenced where possible using the following sources :1. Vapetrotter website. Available at: https://www.vapetrotter.com/laws/ ; 2. Global tobacco control website. Available at:https://www.globaltobaccocontrol.org/node/14052 ; 3. Tobacco Control Laws website. Available at : https://www.tobaccocontrollaws.org/legislation/
Availability
Legal to buy device online - personal use:
Legal to buy nicotine online - personal use:
Legal to import device - trade:
Legal to purchase without prescription:
Regulations and restrictions
Notifications of new products required:
Child and tamperproof containers required:
Health warning on packaging required:
Minimum age restrictions on sales:
Restrictions on nicotine content:
Legal restrictions on use in public places:
Restrictions on tank size:
https://ec.europa.eu/health/tobacco/products/revision_en
Perception of harm
Not harmful, or less harmful than cigarettes:
Harmful, or more harmful than cigarettes:
Reference: European Commission (2017). Special Eurobarometer 458: Attitudes of Europeans towards tobacco and electronic cigarettes Available at: http://data.europa.eu/euodp/en/data/dataset/S2146_87_1_458_ENG
Question asked in this survey did not compare harmfulness with cigarettes. The question used was 'Do you think they are harmful to the health of people who use them?' 45% - YES, 16% - NO, 39% DON'T KNOW
Snus in Bulgaria
There are no comments specific to snus in Bulgaria in the database.
Regulation
Tobacco Tactics website available at: http://tobaccotactics.org/index.php/Snus:_EU_Ban_on_Snus_Sales
Availability
Legal to import product for trade:
Legal to import product for personal use:
Legal to buy product online:
Heated Tobacco Products in Bulgaria
There are no comments specific to heated tobacco products in Bulgaria in the database.
Availability
1. Philip Morris International website. Available at: https://www.pmi.com/smoke-free-products/iqos-our-tobacco-heating-system; 2. BAT Harm Reduction Report 2018. Available at: https://www.bat.com/group/sites/uk__9d9kcy.nsf/vwPagesWebLive/DO9DCL3P.
Nicotine Replacement Therapy in Bulgaria
There are no comments specific to nicotine replacement therapy in Bulgaria in the database.
Product promotion
Consumer Health: Euromonitor from trade sources/national statistics. Date Exported: 8/9/2019. (c) Euromonitor International 2019
Availability
Legal to purchase without prescription:
WHO Report on the Global Tobacco Epidemic 2019. https://www.who.int/tobacco/global_report/en/ (2019).