The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health is to prepare proposed amendments to current smoking legislation. The changes would be aimed at tightening curbs on smoking in restaurants, so that restaurant employees are not exposed to ambient tobacco smoke.
A tripartite working group is to prepare the proposals. In addition to the ministry, the group will have representatives of labour market organisations. The proposals are to be ready during the spring.
If all goes according to schedule, the new tobacco law could take effect in the summer of 2006.
The starting point for the preparations is a study by Professor Kari Reijula of the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health on the implementation of present smoking legislation in restaurants, his proposals for improvements, and the responses that were given.
Social Services Minister Liisa Hyssälä (Centre) promised in December to decide on further action in the early part of the year.
The purpose is to make the dining areas of restaurants completely smoke-free, while leaving a possibility to set up separate smoking areas for those who smoke.
