National Regulatory Framework

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

National Regulatory Framework 10/26/2020 Regulatory report: Austria - ECigIntelligence federalism is often considered theoretical because the central government holds the overwhelming majority of power. For the e-cigarette industry, the most important responsibilities of the individual states are youth protection and urban planning. The bicameral Austrian parliament consists of the National Council (Nationalrat) and the Federal Council(Bundesrat). Three political parties dominate both chambers: the conservative Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP), the left-wing Social Democratic Party of Austria (SPÖ), and the far-right Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ). Between December 2017 and June 2019, Austria was governed by the coalition of the centre-right Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP) and the right-wing populist Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ). Sebastian Kurz, leader of the ÖVP, was the chancellor of Austria (the equivalent of prime minister) until June 2019. Following the resignation of FPÖ ministers from the coalition government over a corruption scandal involving party leader and former vice-chancellor Heinz-Christian Strache, at the end of May 2019 Kurz’s technocratic government received a vote of no confidence from the National Council. On 3rd June, president Alexander Van der Bellen (in office since January 2017) swore in a new technocratic government and appointed Brigitte Bierlein as chancellor. After the September 2019 snap elections, a new coalition of ÖVP with the Green Party was formed, and Sebastian Kurz was re-elected the chancellor of Austria. As Heinz-Christian Strache had vehemently opposed the introduction of a comprehensive ban on smoking and vaping in bars and restaurants, the interim government (ÖVP with the Green Party and Sebastian Kurz as the chancellor of Austria) seized the opportunity to tighten anti-smoking laws, notably by extending the public ban to restaurants and bars, effective as of November 2019 (for more details see the section on Public usage). As for the government’s stance towards e-cigarettes’ role in the harm-reduction policy, the Federal Ministry of Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection (Ministry of Health), via its website as well as via the Rauchfrei (Smoke-free) platform, claims that vaping increases the likelihood of starting to smoke and that e- cigarettes are particularly attractive to children and youth due to their fruity and sweet aromas. It also says e-cigarettes are not harmless and are neither to be considered a less harmful alternative to smoking, nor a proven smoking cessation tool. National regulatory framework The Tobacco and Non-Smoker Protection Act (TNRSG; English version), transposing the European Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) into Austrian law, came into force on 20th May 2016. https://ecigintelligence.com 2/16.
Recommended publications
  • Europe in the Year 2030: “Digital Technology, Active Citizenship, and the Society of the Future” (Berlin, 4Th - 9Th January 2011)
    - Cultural Diplomacy in Europe - A Forum for Young Leaders - Europe in the Year 2030: “Digital Technology, Active Citizenship, and the Society of the Future” (Berlin, 4th - 9th January 2011) A program of lectures and workshops exploring: • The Political Composition of the European Union in 2030: New Members, Former Members? • The Role of Digital Technology in the Society of the Future • The Use of Soft Power and Cultural Diplomacy by National States and the European Union • Bridging the Gap Between EU Institutions and the General Public: Active Citizenship ***** Participants of the program will also take part in: "The Future of EU Foreign Policy: An International Conference on the Political, Economic and Cultural Dimensions of EU Foreign Policy" (Berlin, 4th - 6th January 2011/ www.icd-euforeignpolicy.org) Speakers for the Conference include: Ana Trisic Babic; Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia & Herzegovina Prof. Dr. Davorin Kračun; Former Minister for Economic Relations and Development of Slovenia, Former Foreign Minister, Former Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Emil Constantinescu; Former President of Romania Erna Hennicot Schoepges; Former Luxembourgian Minister of Culture and Religious Affairs Dr. Erhard Busek; Former Vice-Chancellor of Austria, Former Minister for Education & Cultural Affairs Gerassimos D. Arsenis; Former Minister of Economics of Greece, Former Minister of Education and Former Minister of Defence Dr. Jacques F. Poos; Former Deputy Prime Minister of Luxembourg, Minister of Foreign Affairs Jytte Hilden; Former Minister of Culture of Denmark Prof. Dr. Lufter Xhuveli; Former Albanian Minister of Environment Mirko Tomassoni; Former Captain Regent of San Marino Prof. Dr. Ulrich Brückner; Jean Monnet Professor for European Studies, Stanford University in Berlin Prof.
    [Show full text]
  • Factsheet: the Austrian Federal Council
    Directorate-General for the Presidency Directorate for Relations with National Parliaments Factsheet: The Austrian Federal Council 1. At a glance Austria is a federal republic and a parliamentary democracy. The Austrian Parliament is a bicameral body composed of the National Council (Nationalrat) and the Federal Council (Bundesrat). The 61 Members of the Federal Council are delegated by the nine regional parliaments (Landtage) and represent the interests of the regions (Länder) in the federal legislative process. They need not necessarily be Members of the regional parliament that delegates them, but they must in principle be eligible to run for elections in that region. The overall number of Members of the Federal Council is linked to the population size of the regions. The biggest region delegates twelve, the smallest at least three members. The Presidency of the Federal Council rotates every six months between the nine regions in alphabetic order. It is awarded to the Federal Council Member who heads the list of Members established by her or his region. In most cases, the National Council issues federal legislation in conjunction with the Federal Council. However, with some rare exceptions the Federal Council only has a so-called “suspensive” veto right. The National Council can override a challenge by the Federal Council to one of its resolutions by voting on the resolution again. 2. Composition Composition of the Austrian Federal Council Party EP affiliation Seats Österreichische Volkspartei (ÖVP) Austrian People's Party 25 Sozialdemokratische Partei Österreichs (SPÖ) Social Democratic Party of Austria 19 Freiheitliche Partei Österreichs (FPÖ) Freedom Party of Austria 11 Die Grünen 5 The Greens NEOS 1 61 3.
    [Show full text]
  • ESS9 Appendix A3 Political Parties Ed
    APPENDIX A3 POLITICAL PARTIES, ESS9 - 2018 ed. 3.0 Austria 2 Belgium 4 Bulgaria 7 Croatia 8 Cyprus 10 Czechia 12 Denmark 14 Estonia 15 Finland 17 France 19 Germany 20 Hungary 21 Iceland 23 Ireland 25 Italy 26 Latvia 28 Lithuania 31 Montenegro 34 Netherlands 36 Norway 38 Poland 40 Portugal 44 Serbia 47 Slovakia 52 Slovenia 53 Spain 54 Sweden 57 Switzerland 58 United Kingdom 61 Version Notes, ESS9 Appendix A3 POLITICAL PARTIES ESS9 edition 3.0 (published 10.12.20): Changes from previous edition: Additional countries: Denmark, Iceland. ESS9 edition 2.0 (published 15.06.20): Changes from previous edition: Additional countries: Croatia, Latvia, Lithuania, Montenegro, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden. Austria 1. Political parties Language used in data file: German Year of last election: 2017 Official party names, English 1. Sozialdemokratische Partei Österreichs (SPÖ) - Social Democratic Party of Austria - 26.9 % names/translation, and size in last 2. Österreichische Volkspartei (ÖVP) - Austrian People's Party - 31.5 % election: 3. Freiheitliche Partei Österreichs (FPÖ) - Freedom Party of Austria - 26.0 % 4. Liste Peter Pilz (PILZ) - PILZ - 4.4 % 5. Die Grünen – Die Grüne Alternative (Grüne) - The Greens – The Green Alternative - 3.8 % 6. Kommunistische Partei Österreichs (KPÖ) - Communist Party of Austria - 0.8 % 7. NEOS – Das Neue Österreich und Liberales Forum (NEOS) - NEOS – The New Austria and Liberal Forum - 5.3 % 8. G!LT - Verein zur Förderung der Offenen Demokratie (GILT) - My Vote Counts! - 1.0 % Description of political parties listed 1. The Social Democratic Party (Sozialdemokratische Partei Österreichs, or SPÖ) is a social above democratic/center-left political party that was founded in 1888 as the Social Democratic Worker's Party (Sozialdemokratische Arbeiterpartei, or SDAP), when Victor Adler managed to unite the various opposing factions.
    [Show full text]
  • Professional and Ethical Standards for Parliamentarians Background Study: Professional and Ethical Standards for Parliamentarians
    Background Study: Professional and Ethical Standards for Parliamentarians Background Study: Professional and Ethical Standards for Parliamentarians Warsaw, 2012 Published by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) Ul. Miodowa 10, 00–251 Warsaw, Poland http://www.osce.org/odihr © OSCE/ODIHR 2012, ISBN 978–92–9234–844–1 All rights reserved. The contents of this publication may be freely used and copied for educational and other non-commercial purposes, provided that any such reproduction is accompanied by an acknowledgement of the OSCE/ODIHR as the source. Designed by Homework Cover photo of the Hungarian Parliament Building by www.heatheronhertravels.com. Printed by AGENCJA KARO Table of contents Foreword 5 Executive Summary 8 Part One: Preparing to Reform Parliamentary Ethical Standards 13 1.1 Reasons to Regulate Conduct 13 1.2 The Limits of Regulation: Private Life 19 1.3 Immunity for Parliamentarians 20 1.4 The Context for Reform 25 Part Two: Tools for Reforming Ethical Standards 31 2.1 A Code of Conduct 34 2.2 Drafting a Code 38 2.3 Assets and Interests 43 2.4 Allowances, Expenses and Parliamentary Resources 49 2.5 Relations with Lobbyists 51 2.6 Other Areas that may Require Regulation 53 Part Three: Monitoring and Enforcement 60 3.1 Making a Complaint 62 3.2 Investigating Complaints 62 3.3 Penalties for Misconduct 69 3.4 Administrative Costs 71 3.5 Encouraging Compliance 72 3.6 Updating and Reviewing Standards 75 Conclusions 76 Glossary 79 Select Bibliography 81 Foreword The public accountability and political credibility of Parliaments are cornerstone principles, to which all OSCE participating States have subscribed.
    [Show full text]
  • REGISTER Open Days at Carmel May 28-30
    Member of Audit Bureau of CireulaHanB Contents Copyrighted by the Catholic Press Society, Inc., 1948— Perrnission to Reproduce, Except on | Articles Otherwise Marked, Given After 12 M. Friday Following Issue. Open Days at Carmel May 28-30 DENVER CATHOUC Officials Meet to Aid DPs Littleton Monastery REGISTER Will Observe Strict The National Catholic Welfare Conference News Service Supplies The Denver Catholic Register. We Have Also the Witemational News Service (Wire and Mail), a Large Special Service, Seven Smaller Enclosure Thereafter Services, NCWC and Religious News Photos. Price of paper 3 cents a copy. _______ Open days for the inspection of the new Carmel of the VOL. XLII. No, 38. DENVER, COLO., THURSDAY, MAY 13, 1948. $1 PER YEAR. Holy Spirit at hittleton will be held Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, May 28, 29, and 30. Friday will be for the priests and Saturday and Sunday will be visiting day for the reli­ gious and laity. The visiting hours are from 9 to 11 in the Hunt for Fundamentals Led morning and 2:30 to 5 in the afternoon. Following May 30 the law of closure will be observed in the Carmel. After that date the nuns may not leave the limits of the monastery grounds, Chinese Couple Into Church nor may an outsider enter the en­ closed part of the monastery with­ By Rev. John B. Ebel out the special permission of the F r . Leyden David (Sing Hon) Louie and his charming young wife, Eleanor, had three university Ordinary. degrees, between them, but they scarcely seemed enough. The public chapel, however, “ In my field of engineering,” says Mr.
    [Show full text]
  • Austrian Stability Programme
    Austrian Stability Programme Technical update for the period to Vienna, April Contents Introduction ...................................................................................................... Economic Situation in Austria ............................................................................. Economic development (-) ........................................................................ . COVID-: Qualitative description of economic policy measures and their effects ...... Budgetary development ( to ) ............................................................. . Budget implementation in ............................................................................. Budget .......................................................................................................... Development of public budgets in .................................................................. Assessment with respect to -. % GDP growth in ........................................... Excursus: COVID- effects on the structural budget balance .................................. Annex ............................................................................................................. Tables ................................................................................................................ Figures ............................................................................................................... Literature and sources ........................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Austria: Europe's Center of Opportunity
    CONTENT FROM COUNTRY REPORTS AUSTRIA Austria: Europe’s center of opportunity A new government brings an investor-friendly outlook to the country Having elected a young and dynamic new government headed by Chancellor RA DU Sebastian Kurz in 2017, 2018 saw one of the world’s most important econo- A S K Y mies return to the international spotlight—Austria, a country geographically R N and ideologically located at the heart of Europe and the European Union HE / (EU) that “acts as a bridge builder between the east and west,” states Kurz. CK TO It has consistently ranked as a leading destination for foreign direct invest- ERS ment (FDI) for many years, as well as “probably the most secure and most HUTT S beautiful place to live,” he says. But international interest is increasing in a country predicted to see its economy’s success outstripping that of many other IMAGE: © IMAGE: EU countries, including Germany. Reflecting on some of the achievements his government has overseen after just a year in power, Kurz notes that Austria has reached its first budget surplus for 65 years. In addition, “We have an tation hubs are opening, and the government is investing in advancing digital economic growth rate of close to three percent and unemployment is going skills and e-government, she says. down; we are now on the right path to achieve even better results,” he says. Schramböck believes that new technologies will “help us to reindustrialize This path includes a number of major economic reforms. “We have re- Austria and Europe. As an example, the world’s most modern digital steel formed the labor law to make it more flexible and we have started to reduce factory is going to be built in Austria, creating jobs and a new type of industry the tax burden so that we become more competitive again,” explains Kurz.
    [Show full text]
  • Austrian Federalism in Comparative Perspective
    CONTEMPORARY AUSTRIAN STUDIES | VOLUME 24 Bischof, Karlhofer (Eds.), Williamson (Guest Ed.) • 1914: Aus tria-Hungary, the Origins, and the First Year of World War I War of World the Origins, and First Year tria-Hungary, Austrian Federalism in Comparative Perspective Günter Bischof AustrianFerdinand Federalism Karlhofer (Eds.) in Comparative Perspective Günter Bischof, Ferdinand Karlhofer (Eds.) UNO UNO PRESS innsbruck university press UNO PRESS innsbruck university press Austrian Federalism in ŽŵƉĂƌĂƟǀĞWĞƌƐƉĞĐƟǀĞ Günter Bischof, Ferdinand Karlhofer (Eds.) CONTEMPORARY AUSTRIAN STUDIES | VOLUME 24 UNO PRESS innsbruck university press Copyright © 2015 by University of New Orleans Press All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form, or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage nd retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from the publisher. All inquiries should be addressed to UNO Press, University of New Orleans, LA 138, 2000 Lakeshore Drive. New Orleans, LA, 70148, USA. www.unopress.org. Printed in the United States of America Book design by Allison Reu and Alex Dimeff Cover photo © Parlamentsdirektion Published in the United States by Published and distributed in Europe University of New Orleans Press by Innsbruck University Press ISBN: 9781608011124 ISBN: 9783902936691 UNO PRESS Publication of this volume has been made possible through generous grants from the the Federal Ministry for Europe, Integration, and Foreign Affairs in Vienna through the Austrian Cultural Forum in New York, as well as the Federal Ministry of Economics, Science, and Research through the Austrian Academic Exchange Service (ÖAAD). The Austrian Marshall Plan Anniversary Foundation in Vienna has been very generous in supporting Center Austria: The Austrian Marshall Plan Center for European Studies at the University of New Orleans and its publications series.
    [Show full text]
  • The Establishment of a Parliamentary Budget Office in the Austrian National Council Christoph Konrath
    The establishment of a Parliamentary Budget Office in the Austrian National Council Christoph Konrath So far, the Austrian Parliament does neither have a Budget Office nor does it feature any special secretariat or assistance of the Budget Committee. From 2013 onwards Austria will follow performance based budgeting on federal level and thus it is necessary to re- align budget procedures and control in parliament. Therefore, the political parties in the main chamber of parliament, the Nationalrat or National Council, have agreed to estab- lish a parliamentary budget office. In my short presentation I will give an overview of the new budget rules in Austria and the ongoing transformation process (1). This model has been presented not only as a reform of budget rules but also as a major reform of politics. In this way, it holds a lot of challenges for parliament and might – in the end – lead to a reassessment of parliamen- tarism in Austria. I will try to outline these challenges by referring to the current role of parliament in Austria (2) and the state of preparations for a budget office in parliament. Further on, I will present the specific conditions a budget office will face here (3). 1 Budget reform in Austria Up to the mid-1990s, budget formulation in Austria was very traditional, cash-based, highly legalistic and input-oriented. The lack of a binding, medium-term perspective for budgeting caused increasing planning problems both for the Ministry of Finance and the line ministries. The focus of budgeting was primarily on inputs and neglected perform- ance results.
    [Show full text]
  • Legislative Actors' Resources
    Sustainable Governance Indicators SGI 2014 Legislative Actors’ Resources Report Parliamentary Resources, Obtaining Documents, Summoning Ministers, Summoning Experts, Task Area Congruence, Audit Office, Ombuds Office SGI 2014 | 2 Legislative Actors’ Resources Report Indicator Parliamentary Resources Question Do members of parliament have adequate personnel and structural resources to monitor government activity effectively? 41 OECD and EU countries are sorted according to their performance on a scale from 10 (best) to 1 (lowest). This scale is tied to four qualitative evaluation levels. 10-9 = The members of parliament as a group can draw on a set of resources suited for monitoring all government activity effectively. 8-6 = The members of parliament as a group can draw on a set of resources suited for monitoring a government’s major activities. 5-3 = The members of parliament as a group can draw on a set of resources suited for selectively monitoring some government activities. 2-1 = The resources provided to the members of parliament are not suited for any effective monitoring of the government. United States Score 10 The resources of the U.S. Congress substantially surpass those of any other national legislature. First of all, there are three large congressional agencies that perform research and analysis, independently of the executive branch: the Congressional Budget Office (CBO); the Congressional Research Service (CRS); and the Government Accountability Office (GAO). The CBO, a nonpartisan body, is the most credible source of budget analysis in the government. Secondly, each congressional committee has a sizable staff, divided between the majority and the minority parties. In addition, each member of Congress has personal staff, ranging from about 14 personnel, including at least one or two legislative specialists for a member of the House, to more than 50, with several legislative specialists, for a senator from a large state.
    [Show full text]
  • The Anschluss Movement and British Policy
    THE ANSCHLUSS MOVEMENT AND BRITISH POLICY: MAY 1937 - MARCH 1938 by Elizabeth A. Tarte, A.B. A 'l11esis submitted to the Faculty of the Graduate School, Marquette University, in Part ial Fulfillment of the Re­ quirements f or the Degree of Master of Arts Milwaukee, Wisconsin May, 1967 i1 PREFACE For many centuri.es Austria. bad been closely eom'lect E!d \'lieh the German states. 111 language and eulture. Austri.a and Germany had always looked to each other. AS late as the t~tentieth century. Austria .st111 clung to her traditional leadership in Germany . In the perlod following the First World War, Austria continued to lo(!)k to Germany for leadership. Aus tria, beset by numerous economic and social problems. made many pleas for uni on with her German neighbor. From 1919 to 1933 all ;novas on the part of Austria and Germany for union, -v.71\ether political oreeon01;n1c. were th"larted by the signatories of the pea.ce treaties. Wl ,th the entrance of Adolf Hitler onto the European political stage, the movement fQr the Anschluss .. - the union of Germany and Austria .- t ook on a different light. Austrians no longer sought \.Ulion with a Germany v.ilich was dominated by Hitler. The net"l National $Gclalist Gertna,n Reich aimed at: the early acq'U1Si ,tiQn of Austria. The latter "(vas i mportant to the lteich fGr its agricultural and Batural reSources and would i mprove its geopolitical and military position in Europe. In 1934 the National Soci aU.sts assaSSinated Dr .. U.:. £tlto1bot''t Pollfuas, the Aust~i ..\n Cbaneellot'l in ,an 8.'ttcmp't to tillkltl c:ronet:Ql or his: eountry.
    [Show full text]
  • The Role of the Second Chamber in European States
    Strasbourg, 1 March/1er mars 2006 CDL(2006)011 Or. Bil. Study No. 335/2005 EUROPEAN COMMISSION FOR DEMOCRACY THROUGH LAW (VENICE COMMISSION) COMMISSION EUROPEENNE POUR LA DEMOCRATIE PAR LE DROIT (COMMISSION DE VENISE) THE ROLE OF THE SECOND CHAMBER IN EUROPEAN STATES LE ROLE DE LA DEUXIEME CHAMBRE DANS LES ETATS EUROPEENS CONTRIBUTIONS BY VENICE COMMISSION MEMBERS CONTRIBUTIONS DES MEMBRES DE LA COMMISSION DE VENISE This document will not be distributed at the meeting. Please bring this copy. Ce document ne sera pas distribué en réunion. Prière de vous munir de cet exemplaire. CDL(2006)011 - 2 - TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE DES MATIERES Page THE SECOND CHAMBERS OF PARLIAMENT, by Christoph Grabenwarter, Constitutional Court, Vienna, Substitute Member, Austria......................................................................................3 LE SENAT DE BELGIQUE, par Jean-Claude Scholsem, Université de Liège, Membre, Belgique ..............................................................................................................................................7 ROLE OF THE SECOND HOUSE OF THE PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY OF BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA, by Cazim Sadikovic, University of Sarajevo, Member, Bosnia and Herzegovina......................................................................................................................................12 THE ROLE OF THE SECOND CHAMBER IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC: THE SENATE OF THE PARLIAMENT OF THE CZECH REPUBLIC, by Eliska Wagnerova, Constitutional Court, Brno, Member, Czech Republic...........................................................................................16
    [Show full text]