The 2013 Canadian Tobacco, Alcohol and Drugs Survey data were released on February 3, 2015.
The overall smoking prevalence in 2013 was 15% (4.2 million smokers), statistically unchanged from 2012 (16%, about 4.6 million smokers), but the lowest national smoking rate ever recorded. Eleven percent (11% or 3.1 million) reported smoking daily, while 4% (1.1 million) reported smoking occasionally. More males (16%) reported smoking than females (13%).
The Tobacco Control Regulations, 2014, published in Kenya Gazette on 5 December 2014 strengthens implementation of the WHO FCTC in Kenya in several areas, further adding to the strong tack record of Kenya in its implementation of the FCTC since its ratification in 2004.
The new requirements of the Regulations, due to enter into force upon the expiry of six months from the date of its publication in the Gazette, include, among others, the following:
Public Health Minister Jane Ellison confirmed Government backing for the introduction of standardized packaging of tobacco.
The Government intends to lay regulations for standardized packaging before the end of March this year, with the expectation that the regulations would come into force in May 2016.
The Public Health Minister also said that standardized packaging would bring the prospect of the UK's first smoke-free generation one step closer.
On the very last day of December 2014, the Parliament of Kyrgyzstan approved the Law on increasing taxes, including excise taxes on tobacco products. Excise taxes for different types of tobacco will increase as of 2015 and are expected to increase to the level of tobacco taxes in neighboring Kazakhstan. As of 2014, tobacco taxes in Kyrgyzstan are 2.5 to 12 times lower than in Kazakhstan.
Sri Lanka tobacco manufacturers are required, under a court order that is effective from January 1, 2015, to start printing graphic health warnings on cigarette packs.
Sri Lanka's Supreme Court last year ordered the leading manufacturer of tobacco products in Sri Lanka, Ceylon Tobacco Company (CTC) to include pictorial health warnings covering 60 percent of the front and back panels of the cigarette packs released to the market from January 01, 2015.
Since 1 January 2015, smoking is no longer allowed in restaurants, cafes or bars, regardless of their size. In these establishments, the owner can still opt for installing closed booths for smokers, by following the standards determined by the Ministry of Health.
At the same time, the following facilities have become completely smoke-free, with no designated smoking area allowed:
On 23 December 2014, Spain deposited its instrument of accession to the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products. Spain, the second of the EU member states to do so, followed Mongolia, Nicaragua, Uruguay, Gabon and Austria.
The first protocol to the WHO FCTC was adopted on 12 November 2012 at the fifth session of the Conference of the Parties in Seoul, Republic of Korea. It is now open for ratification, acceptance, approval, formal confirmation or accession by all WHO FCTC Parties. It will enter into force upon ratification by 40 Parties.
Nine Parties - Cambodia, China, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Thailand and Viet Nam participated in the first in a series of multisectoral workshops to promote ratification of the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products. The workshop was hosted by the Government of Myanmar and held from 9-11 December in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar.
Dr Vera Luiza da Costa e Silva, Head of the Convention Secretariat, met Dr Thein Thein Htay, Deputy Minister of Health of Myanmar, today, in advance of the Multisectoral Workshop for Parties to the WHO FCTC in Asia to Promote Ratification of the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products, which is due to start tomorrow. Heads of departments relevant to tobacco control of the Ministry of Health also participated in the meeting.
A new law took effect on 3 December in Brazil, prohibiting indoor smoking across the country. Before the federal law came into effect, eight states already had their own legislation. The law prohibits smoking of cigarettes, cigarillos, cigars, pipes and other tobacco products in public or private places in common use, such as halls and corridors of residential buildings, restaurants and clubs - even if the environment is partially enclosed by a wall, partition, ceiling or awning.