Smoking May Also Be Banned In Bars, Clubs And Restaurants
The bill banning smoking in public institutions, which was adopted by senators last week, may also target bars, clubs and restaurants, Mediafax informs.
Lawmaker Aurelia Cristea proposed that the bill amending Law no. 349/2002, which aims to prevent and tackle the effects of tobacco products consumption, should also ban smoking definitively in playgrounds, workplaces and all public transport vehicles.
Cristea also proposed banning the sale of tobacco products in hospitals and schools and within a radius lower than 250 meters from any entry point into hospitals and schools. (Romania Libera)
INS: Romania Unemployment Rate Up To 6.7% In 4Q 2014
Romania’s unemployment rate rose to 6.7% in the fourth quarter of 2014, from 6.5% in the third quarter, according to the statistics institute INS.
In the third quarter, Romania’s active population stood at 9.172 million persons, of which 618,000 were unemployed.
Male unemployment stood at 7.1% and female unemployment at 6.2%.
The figures are based on the definition recommended by the International Labor Organization (ILO). (Puterea)
Checkups At Nearly 60% Of Drugstores Reveal Numerous Irregularities
Checkups conducted at nearly 60% of drugstores brought to light numerous irregularities, among which the lack of compensated and free-of-charge drugs.
Checkups were conducted by representatives of the Health Ministry and the National Health Insurance House, between November 6 and 28, 2014.
Health Insurance House spokesperson Mihaela Tanase said more than 5,000 drugstores, work points and local distribution offices were checked upon during the mentioned period. (Adevarul)
Romania’s Beer Market Down 8.6% In 2014
Romania’s beer market fell 8.6% on the year in 2014, for the second consecutive year, on the backdrop of fiscal pressure, according to the country’s brewers association.
According to the association, the market decline was caused by a 16% increase in excise duty on beer in 2013 and the changes brought last year to the currency exchange rate used to calculate it, which triggered an excise duty higher by 5 percentage points.
A Romanian drank, on average, 74 liters of beer in 2014, compared to 81 liters a year ago and a record high of 99 liters in 2008.
The contraction of the Romanian beer market in 2014 caused brewers’ invested budgets, which totaled EUR60 million, to shrink by EUR2 million. (Puterea)
Hellvig And Iohannis Attend Presentation Of SRI’s 2014 Activity Report
Romanian Intelligence Service (SRI) director Eduard Hellvig and President Klaus Iohannis on Tuesday attended the presentation of SRI’s activity report for 2014.
Hellvig and Iohannis praised SRI’s activity in the fight against corruption and its operations regarding the national security.
Hellvig admitted that SRI had also made mistakes which, he pointed out, did not affect the national security. (Puterea)