The Nigerian Senate has passed a National Tobacco Control Bill on 12 May 2015. The bill covers a broad range of issues such as manufacturing, advertising, sale and labelling. It is intended to align the Nigerian legislation with the requirements of the WHO FCTC, which the country ratified in 2005.

In order to come into force, the bill still has to be signed into law by President Goodluck Jonathan. A similar was passed by the Senate already in 2011, but was never signed by the President.

The Chinese Ministry of Finance has announced that from 10 May 2015 on, the consumption tax on cigarettes will be 11 percent. This means that the rate, previously at 5 percent, has been more than doubled. Additionally, cigarettes that are sold individually will be taxed an extra 0.005 yuan.

From 6 - 8 May 2015, Botswana was host to a 2.5 day multisectoral workshop on the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products. Delegations from ten countries from the African Region of WHO, namely Botswana, Burkina Faso, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gambia, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mali, South Africa, Swaziland and Togo, met in Gaborone in order to exchange experiences with regard to the Protocol.

The International Tax and Investment Center (ITIC) is organizing the 12th Asia Pacific Regional Forum in New Delhi, India from 5-7 May.

ITIC has a number of tobacco companies as part of its board of directors and has produced many publications on several areas related to taxes and prices, investment and illicit trade in tobacco products.

The event website originally listed the Indian Minister of Finance (State) as the confirmed Chief Guest of its Opening ceremony, along with officials from his ministry, former Indian Minister of Finance and state government officials.

The Delhi State Government launched an awareness initiative to inform about the health consequences of tobacco use, in particular chewing tobacco, on 30 April 2015.

French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius has introduced a bill on the ratification of the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products to the Assemblée Nationale after its approval by the Government. Along with it, an impact study will be presented to the Members of Parliament describing the current situation and expected outcomes of the new legislation.

The amendment to the 21-year-old Advertisement Law was approved today by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress at its bimonthly session. The new law will take effect on 1 September 2015.

Tobacco advertisements will be forbidden on mass media and in public places, banning any kinds of advertisement targeting minors. Advertisements for other products or services should not include the brand, trademark, packaging, design and similar contents of tobacco products, according to the new law.

From 22-24 April 2015, the WHO FCTC Convention Secretariat concluded a multisectoral workshop in Panama to promote ratification of and accession to the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products. Representatives of the Governments of Costa Rica, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua and Panama came together to discuss next steps on the way to bringing the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products into force. The Government of Panama kindly funded the meeting.

The Cambodian National Assembly passed the country's first ever law on tobacco control on 8 April 2015. The law was approved unanimously by all political parties. Later in the month, on 30 April 2015, the Plenary Session of the Senate also ratified the Law. 

Burkina Faso's Ministers of Health and Trade signed a joint decree on April 7, 2015, requiring pictorial warnings required on tobacco packs.