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23 January 2026 | Policy Analysis
New excise tax on sugar-sweetened beverages -
19 December 2017 | Country Update
Baltic States collaborate to promote healthy lifestyles -
05 June 2017 | Policy Analysis
The Parliament approved new measures for tighter alcohol control -
28 March 2017 | Country Update
Changes to voluntary food labelling
2.6. Intersectorality
The Lithuanian Health Programme stresses the importance of coordinated actions of various sectors and institutions. Adoption of interinstitutional programmes and formal consultations are the main mechanisms for intersectoral planning and implementation. Currently, there are more than 90 programmes and related action plans on the list approved by the Ministry of Finance. Some of them have a substantial health component and health-related impact, for example the State Alcohol Control and the State Tobacco Control Programmes adopted in 1998–1999, seeking enforcement of legislation on alcohol and tobacco control. These programmes included activities within various ministries, agencies and NGOs. The tobacco programme contributed to a 10% decrease in smoking prevalence among men and prevention of any growth in prevalence in women between 1998 and 2008, while the alcohol programme was reported to contribute to the decrease in the number of crimes committed under the influence of alcohol in 2004–2010 (National Health Board, 2011). The measures on road safety have contributed to a reduction in deaths from road traffic accidents between 2008 and 2010 (Centre for Health Education and Disease Prevention, 2010).
The main issue with intersectoral cooperation lies with budget allocation. Most of the programmes and respective action plans imply financial allocations to the main “coordinating” institution, while other participants are expected to fulfil their obligations without additional resources. Programmes involving major investments, for example the National Drugs Prevention and Control Programme with budget allocations to the education sector (for development of social education) and police (for development of information technology capacity), can be considered more of an exception. Analysis of intersectoral cooperation revealed a number of other shortcomings, including lack of clarity in priority setting, poor quality of plans and lack of control over implementation (Public Policy and Management Institute, 2012).
Naturally, the Ministry of Health has the most interactions on population health issues with the Ministry of Social Security and Labour, as the latter is in charge of safety at work, welfare of vulnerable groups (children, youth, disabled and the elderly) and support of at-risk groups (e.g. drug addicts). Certain progress in developing an integrated approach to nursing and long-term care issues has been achieved. This includes the establishment of social care beds in nursing hospitals in order to assure the continuity of care.
The State Labour Inspectorate is in charge of enforcing compliance with standard acts regulating occupational safety and health, labour relations, prevention of accidents in the workplace and occupational diseases. It inspects approximately 6–7% of registered businesses every year as well as providing consultations and training in occupational health. However, a report on the efficacy of the national occupational health system highlighted a lack of licensed occupational health physicians in Lithuania (Government of the Republic of Lithuania, 2009b).
Regional public health centres have conducted health impact assessments for planned (listed by the Ministry of Health) and other activities since 2004 for local projects (e.g. construction and territory planning). The Health Education and Disease Prevention Centre assesses impact at the national level. In 2010–2013, the centre is implementing a project on the development of health impact assessment in Lithuania, which is financed from the EU Social Fund. The project aims to include situation and feasibility analysis, elaboration of methods and capacity building.
The State Food and Veterinary Service was established in 2000 following reorganization of the State Veterinary Service and the State Hygiene Inspection under the Ministry of Health, and the State Quality Inspection under the State Service for Competition and Protection of Consumer Rights. It currently carries out food control on all food-handling stages “from stable to table”. It elaborates and implements the government’s policy on food safety and quality, as well as on animal health and welfare, partially through inspections. The service, with more than 1500 employees consists of 14 departments and 1 subdepartment, 51 territorial state food and veterinary services, 13 border inspection posts and the National Food and Veterinary Risk Assessment Institute.
From 1 January 2026, Lithuania introduces an excise tax on sugar-sweetened beverages, covering drinks with added sugar or sweeteners and directing the revenue to the State Defence Fund. Until 2026, no such tax applied to sugar-sweetened non-alcoholic beverages. Fiscal pressures linked to higher defence spending after 2022, together with rising childhood obesity and sugar intake, strengthened the case for reform. This also alligns with WHO recommendations, encouraging the use of fiscal measures to curb consumption of sugar.
The reform introduces a tiered excise on non-alcoholic beverages containing more than 2.5 g of added sugar per 100 ml or any sweeteners. Natural sugar drinks, infant formula, medical foods, drinkable dairy products and medications are exempt, while concentrates and syrups face higher rates. Three main bands apply: a lower rate for beverages with 2.5–7.9 g of added sugar per 100 ml or only sweeteners, a higher rate for beverages with at least 8 g, and a distinct rate for concentrates, reflecting their higher sugar density. This structure is expected to raise retail prices for high-sugar products and incentivize reformulation.
The process of policy implementation involved adopting the relevant legislation in June 2025, specifying taxable products, thresholds, exemptions and rates, effective 1 January 2026. This was accompanied by administrative rules and guidance for producers, importers and retailers on classification, reporting and control procedures.
Because the tax only enters into force in 2026, systematic evidence on behavioural, health and distributional effects is not yet available. Early commentary anticipates price increases of about €0.09–€0.25 per litre, product reformulation and reduced demand, but ex post evaluation will be required. Public health organizations broadly support the reform, while industry groups highlight possible impacts on competition and administrative costs.
Authors
In December 2017 the three Baltic States have signed the
memorandum on cooperation for the development of policies targeting
major risk factors. This includes a responsible alcohol control policy,
which should reduce alcohol-related risks and contribute towards healthy
and sustainable societies. Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have also
committed to reduce harm caused by smoking, aiming to implement new
regulations on the use of electronic cigarettes, support increase in
taxes and prices for any of tobacco and smoking products as well as
electronic smoking devices. In addition, nutrition policies should
encourage food manufacturers to label products in a way that would allow
consumers make healthier choices, with overall aim to further limit
trans-fats and minimise consumption of salt and sugar.
The memorandum
aims to encourage the collaboration and sharing of good practices on
implementation of policies of reducing burden of risk factors as well as
developing early interventions to promote healthier lifestyles.
One of the main priorities for the current Government during the first several months of work was the tightening of alcohol control legislation. After an intensive parliamentary debate, on 1st of June the Parliament approved introduction of multiple alcohol control restrictions. The measures that will take effect on 1st of January 2018 include:
- Ban of alcohol advertising (including the full ban on TV, radio and internet). Only a few exemptions apply, such as a logo of producers in sales areas or on memorabilia (e.g. umbrellas, mugs, t-shirts etc.). According to the current legislation, TV advertising was allowed from 11 p.m. until 6 a.m., internet media were almost uncontrolled.
- Restriction on alcohol sale time. Alcoholic beverages to be sold in supermarkets from 10 a.m. until 8 pm Monday to Saturday, and 10 am to 3 pm on Sunday (currently the hours are from 8 am to 10 pm every day). This will not apply to caterers such as bars and restaurants where alcohol is sold for consumption inside the premise.
- The legal age to purchase or consume alcohol is increased from 18 year to 20 years old.
Since 1st of January 2020 the following measures are to be implemented:
- Ban on alcohol sales on the beaches.
- Ban on alcohol sales in pavilions, aiming is to control night-time retail sales of take away alcohol.
- Ban on sales of alcohol drinks stronger than 7.5% during public events.
- For public caterers (restaurants, pubs etc.), outside alcohol sales to be allowed only up to 40 meters from the building of the caterer, with municipalities able to further restrict this distance or ban sales of alcohol outside the premise.
These measures come in addition to recent substantial increase in excise taxes on alcohol, marking the commitment of the current Government to reduce high alcohol consumption levels in Lithuania. The Ministry of Health also initiated the reform of addiction services, aiming to increase service availability. At the same time, the National Public Health Strengthening Fund under the Ministry of Health, financed through a small share of earmarked taxes from alcohol sales, issued a call for applications, aiming to allocate €1.3 mln, for social advertising campaigns and public health initiatives.
Authors
References
Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania (2017)
https://e-seimas.lrs.lt/portal/legalAct/lt/TAP/e889e28041eb11e7b8e5a254f4e1c3a7
Voluntary labelling of healthier food products with a Keyhole symbol started in Lithuania in 2014 and has recently been expanded with new criteria and with 17 new types of food products (including nuts, whole grain rice and pasta, rye bread, fish, meat, etc). Products labelled with the Keyhole sign contain substantially less fat, sugar or salt and more dietary fiber than other products of the same food group. The new criteria have also been set for marking vegetarian products and ready meals. The symbol represents a public, non-commercial, free and voluntary initiative marking healthier foods, which aims to assist consumers in making healthier dietary choices.
Authors
References
(Lithuanian Ministry of Health): http://sam.lrv.lt/lt/naujienos/daugiau-sveiku-maisto-produktu-geresnei-sveikatai
The Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania: https://www.e-tar.lt/portal/lt/legalAct/42987ff084be11e3aba3d2563f167b94/ulkhVyVZME