The Peruvian Ministry of Health launched the report of the needs assessment jointly undertaken by the Government of Peru and the Convention Secretariat (WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control) on 29 September 2015. The report presents an analysis on the progress, challenges and needs encountered in the implementation of the WHO FCTC, and the recommendations that will help the country meet its obligations under the Convention. The Pan American Health Organization (WHO/PAHO) participated at the event.

The Australian Government Post-Implementation Review of Tobacco Plain Packaging has been released on 26 February 2016.

The Cabinet of the European Ombudsman notified the Convention Secretariat of its new and strengthened policy regarding interactions with the tobacco industry, adopted by the institution in September 2015. 

These measures are aligned with Article 5.3 of the Convention and its implementation guidelines, and aim at limiting interactions with the tobacco industry and ensuring full transparency if any interactions occur. 

For details concerning this policy please visit: 

A smoking ban inside malls is now implemented in Kuwait. Smokers who violate this ban will be fined KD 50 to KD 100. This penalty will be applied to all smoking gadgets including electronic cigarettes. Store or restaurant owners inside malls will be fined KD 5,000 if they allow their customers to smoke in their facility.

Affordable and quality healthcare for the elderly and the disabled is a moral and legal imperative, which has been reflected in the Republic of Palau's Constitution and the National Healthcare Financing Act. On 17 February 2016, the Honorable Palau President Remengesau signed the law RPPL 9-57, which allocates ten percent of the revenues derived from import tax on alcoholic beverages and excise tax on tobacco to pay for the healthcare coverage subscription costs of non-working citizens who are either over the age of 60 or disabled.

At its meeting on 17 February 2016, the Ministerial Council adopted the draft law that will authorise the President to ratify the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products.

Despite strong opposition from the tobacco industry, the Ukrainian President has signed a new law, which will increase specific excise rate on cigarettes by 40% and ad valorem excise rate by 20%. This law will be in effect on 1 January 2016 and has the intent of reducing Ukraine's mortality attributable to tobacco use.

According to the Oxford University estimates Ukraine had 60,965 tobacco-related deaths in 2010. In 2015 42% of males and 9% of females smoked daily in Ukraine..  

The Romanian Parliament voted on 15 December 2015 on a total ban of smoking in enclosed public places and playgrounds. The law will be signed by the President, expectedly next week, and will enter into force 45 days after its publication in the Official Journal, e.g, first half of February 2016.

On 30 November 2015,  France completed the process of ratifying the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products by depositing its ratification instrument at the UN treaty section.

Please see details at the following link: https://treaties.un.org/doc/Publication/CN/2015/CN.635.2015-Eng.pdf

Earlier, on 26 October 2015, the French parliament adopted a law to this end, which was then promulgated by the President on the ratification of the Protocol.

Several activities have recently been implemented in Gabon that correspond to the recommendations of the needs assessment exercise that has been jointly implemented by the Convention Secretariat and the Government of Gabon.