Cigarettes in Italy
The overall trend for prevalence of current smokers in the general population in Italy has been downwards since 2006. 24% of the population in Italy were current smokers in 2017, down from 31% in 2006. The prevalence reduced steadily during this period with the exception of 2014-2017 where there was a 3% increase. 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 Italy
Italy abides by the EU Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) (2014). The Italian law that implements the TPD is Legislative Decree 12 January 2016, No. 6. As such, e-cigarettes are regulated as tobacco products. Indoor vaping bans apply to governmental buildings. Recent (2018) changes in legislation have made distance sales and online sales illegal. Some online commentators fear a recent tax hike, which applies to e-cigarettes but not heated tobacco products, will discourage safer nicotine use. The Chamber of Deputies, on 13th December 2018, approved a tax decree which will reduce the current taxation on e-liquids containing nicotine for electronic cigarettes by 80%. This would reduce the current heavy taxation of almost 4 euros for a 10 ml bottle to a light taxation of 80 cents (for e-liquids containing nicotine).
Product promotion
Advertising is regulated:
Allowed or banned at place of sale or allowed or banned in all media.
Regulation
Regulatory status:
Allowed
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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 import nicotine - 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?' 34% - YES, 46% - NO, 20% DON'T KNOW
Snus in Italy
There are no comments specific to snus in Italy in the database.
Regulation
Regulatory status:
Banned
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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 Italy
In Italy, heated tobacco products may be regulated by Law 188/2014 as smokeless tobacco products, “Tabacchi da inalazione senza combustion” (“Tobacco product for inhalation without combustion”). Also, Italian law n.6/2016, transposes Article 19 of the EU Tobacco Products Directive (covering novel tobacco products) and covers heated tobacco products. Regulations cover reporting, notifications and health warning labels.
Regulation
Regulatory status:
Allowed
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1. Philip Morris International website. Available at: https://www.pmi.com/smoke-free-products/iqos-our-tobacco-heating-system; 2. WHO (2018) Heated tobacco products (Htps) market monitoring information sheet. Available at: https://www.who.int/tobacco/publications/prod_regulation/htps-marketing-monitoring/en/ 3. BAT harm Reduction report 2018. Available at: https://www.bat.com/group/sites/uk__9d9kcy.nsf/vwPagesWebLive/DO9DCL3P
Availability
1. Philip Morris International website. Available at: https://www.pmi.com/smoke-free-products/iqos-our-tobacco-heating-system; 2. WHO (2018) Heated tobacco products (Htps) market monitoring information sheet. Available at: https://www.who.int/tobacco/publications/prod_regulation/htps-marketing-monitoring/en/ 3. BAT harm Reduction report 2018. Available at: https://www.bat.com/group/sites/uk__9d9kcy.nsf/vwPagesWebLive/DO9DCL3P
Nicotine Replacement Therapy in Italy
There are no comments specific to nicotine replacement therapy in Italy 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).