The National Competition Protection Agency (ANPC) has issued an order prescribing restaurant and bar owners to either forbid smoking or set aside rooms for smokers. Violations will be sanctioned with fines of 2,000 to 3,000 lei or even suspension of the license for up to 3 years, Info-Prim Neo reports. ANPC director Viorica Carare told a press briefing on Tuesday that the order intends to enforce Article 16 of the Tobacco Law, which establishes restrictions on smoking in public places such as restaurants, bars and nightclubs. Such places should have signs reading “smoking is forbidden” or have separate rooms for smokers, which should not exceed half of the establishment's area. Further, ANPC instructed local authorities to verify whether separate smoking rooms exist when issuing or extending a license to restaurant and bar owners. Explaining the competition component of the ANPC's order, Viorica Carare said that there are owners who observe the law and spend money on such accommodations, and there are owners who don't, which amounts to unfair competition.