The legislative package on Making Addenda to the RA Law on Trade and Services authored by the RA NA deputies Alkhas Ghazaryan, Hakob Arshakyan, Babken Tunyan, Sona Ghazaryan, Arusyak Julhakyan, Arsen Torosyan, Mariam Poghosyan, Hasmik Hakobyan aims to limit the circulation of energy drinks containing caffeine and taurine in order to protect the health of persons under 18 years of age, as well as to create legal foundations.
The issue was debated during the regular sitting of the NA Standing Committee on Economic Affairs convened on November 27.
According to the key rapporteur Alkhas Ghazaryan, the proposal was made due to considerable public concern regarding the mass use of energy drinks among teenagers.
According to data published by the Ministry of Health, 40% of teenagers consume energy drinks weekly, which can have a negative impact on their health.
According to the MP, a number of countries have already taken certain steps to limit them. Therefore, the above-mentioned draft law proposes to prohibit the sale of energy drinks to persons under 18 years of age and to limit the possibility of their advertising. The draft law also proposes to prohibit the sale of alcoholic beverages to persons under 18 years of age. The authors propose to apply administrative liability for violating the above-mentioned prohibitions.
The RA Minister of Economy Gevorg Papoyan, presenting the Government's proposal, noted that there were proposals that were accepted by the authors, as a result of which the legislative package was amended.
In their speeches, the MPs emphasized the importance of adopting the draft law.
The legislative package has been endorsed.
