WHO - International Digest Of Health Legislation: ARMENIA

Armenian Legislation

IA. Constitutional provisions relating to health, general health codes or public health laws, human rights, and other fundamental provisions

Constitution. Adopted on 5 July 1995.

The State is to guarantee the protection of human rights and freedoms based on the Constitution and the laws, and in accordance with the principles and norms of international law (Article 4).

The right to property is recognized and protected, but it may not be exercised so as to damage the environment (Article 8).

The State is to ensure the protection and restoration of the environment, as well as the rational utilization of natural resources (Article 10).

Citizens, regardless of national origin, race, sex, language, creed, political or other persuasion, social origin, wealth or other status, are entitled to all the rights and freedoms, and subject to the duties determined by the Constitution and the laws (Article 15).

Everyone has the right to life (Article 17). 

No one may be subjected to medical or scientific experimentation without his consent (Article 19).

Everyone is entitled to protect his private and family life (Article 20).

Every citizen is entitled to freedom of choice in employment, as well as to working conditions that meet sanitary and safety requirements (Article 29). Everyone is entitled to rest (Article 30).

Every citizen is entitled to an adequate standard of living for himself and his family, to adequate housing, as well as to the improvement of living conditions; the State is to provide the essential means to enable the exercise of this right (Article 31).

The family is the natural and fundamental cell of society. Family, motherhood, and childhood are placed under the care and protection of society and the State (Article 32).

Every citizen is entitled to social security during old age, disability, sickness, loss of an income earner, unemployment, and in other cases prescribed by law (Article 33).

Everyone is entitled to the preservation of health. The provision of medical care and services is prescribed by law. The State is to put into effect health care protection programmes for the population and promote the development of sports and physical education (Article 34).

The rights and freedoms set forth in the Constitution are not exhaustive and do not exclude other universally accepted human and civil rights and freedoms (Article 43).

Article 44 prescribes that the law may restrict certain rights and freedoms, if necessary for, inter alia, the protection of public health.

Notes : Comprises 9 Chapters (117 Articles). Replaces the Constitution of 1978, as amended.

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X. Control of smoking, alcoholism, and drug abuse

Law of the Republic of Armenia of 30 April 1996 on advertising.

Article 15 (Particular features of advertising separate types of merchandise) prescribes that in advertising alcholic beverages and tobacco it is prohibited: to suggest that alcohol and tobacco have healthy, stimulating, soothing, or relaxing properties; to encourage widespread consumption of alcohol and tobacco; to express a negative attitude towards the non-consumption or moderate consumption of such products; and to represent high alcohol or nicotine content as a positive characteristic.

Also prohibited are: tobacco advertising without a health warning; alcohol and tobacco advertising aimed directly at minors; alcohol and tobacco advertising demonstrating how such products are consumed; alcohol and tobacco advertising through electronic media between 07.00 and 21.00 h; the advertising of medicaments, medical equipment, and methods of medical treatment without the permission of the Ministry of Health; the advertising of narcotics and toxic and powerful medicaments; and the advertising of medicaments, medical equipment, and methods of medical treatment that require a medical prescription.

XC. Drug abuse (narcotics, psychotropic drugs, and other dependence-producing drugs)

Law of the Republic of Armenia on narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.

Adopted 26 December 2002 and approved by the President 10 January 2003.

This Law comprises the following Chapters:
1. General provisions (Articles 1-6);
2. The institutional bases for the licit traffic and interdiction of the illicit traffic of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances (Articles 7-10);
3. The requirements set for activities relating to the traffic of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and their precursors (Articles 11-27);
4. The use of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances (Articles 28-36); 5. The interdiction of the illicit traffic of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and their precursors (Articles 37-45);
6. Medical assistance to drug addicts (Articles 46-51);
7. Guidelines of the national policy programme against the illicit traffic of narcotic drugs and substances (Articles 52-54); and
8. Concluding provisions (Articles 55-56).

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XIIIB. Food safety

Law of the Republic of Armenia on food safety.

Adopted by the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia on 8 December 1999.

This Law lays down provisions concerning, inter alia: hygiene requirements governing food production and handling; the control of food safety by manufacturers; the control of food safety by the State; maximum permissible pesticide residues; testing laboratories; use-by dates; labelling and packaging; and the requirements governing the premises in which food is prepared.

XVIII. Environmental protection

The Water Code of the Republic of Armenia.

Adopted by the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia on 4 June 2002

This Code includes the following Chapters:

1. General provisions;
2. Water resources management bodies;
3. Strategic water use, protection and information systems;
4. Water use permits; 5. Water system use permits;
6. Use and management of State-owned water systems;
7. Regulation of the use of transboundary water resources;
8. Water quality standards; and
9. Protection and State supervision of water resources.

Law of the Republic of Armenia on environmental impact assessment.

Dated 12 December 1995.

This Law comprises the following Chapters:

I. General provisions;
II. Environmental impact assessment of the intended activities;
III. Environmental impact assessment of concepts; and
IV. The authorized body implementing environmental impact assessment of intended activities and its responsibility.

XIX. Radiation protection

Law of 1 February 1999 on the safety of the use of atomic energy for peaceful purposes.

Comprises the following Chapters:

1. General provisions (Secs. 1-6);
2. Competence of central and local authorities with regard to the use of atomic energy (Secs. 7-10);
3. Law governing natural and legal persons with regard to the use of atomic energy (Secs. 11-14);
4. State regulation of safety with regard to the use of atomic energy (Secs. 15-17);
5. System of authorization with regard to the use of atomic energy (Sec. 18);
6. Exploitation of the objects of the use of atomic energy (Secs. 19-20);
7. Sources of ionizing radiation and radioactive waste (Secs. 21-24);
8. Physical protection of the objects of the use of atomic energy (Secs. 25-26);
9. Legal restrictions with regard to the use of atomic energy (Secs. 27-30);
10. Safeguards with respect to nuclear, radioactive, and special materials, radioactive wastes, and special equipment and technologies (Secs. 31-32);
11. Nuclear damage and compensation (Secs. 33-36); and
12. Liability for the violation of the legislation of the Republic of Armenia concerning the safety of the use of atomic energy for peaceful purposes (Sec. 37).

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