DECEMBER 2013 - On 23 December 2013, the President of Turkmenistan signed the law "on the protection of the health of citizens from the effects of tobacco smoke and the consequences of tobacco consumption". The new act introduces strong tobacco-control measures in line with the requirements of the WHO FCTC such as:

NOVEMBER 2013 - The Tobacco Products Control Act passed in August 2013 in Swaziland aims to give effect to the WHO FCTC, and has as its main objective to protect the health of the population from the consequences of tobacco consumption and exposure to tobacco smoke.

JULY 2013 - On 15 July 2013 Jamaica's new Public Health (Tobacco Control) Regulations entered into force. The regulations, which are fully in line with the relevant provisions of the WHO FCTC, stipulate the use of rotating pictorial health warnings that cover at least 75% of each principal display surface of tobacco product packaging, among the largest in the world; ban misleading statements on packaging; and prohibit smoking in public places, including all enclosed public places and workplaces. They also specify the penalties for offences committed under the regulations.

JUNE 2013 - On 8 March 2013 Thailand's Minister of Health, Dr Pradith Sinthawanarong, signed new regulations that require graphic health warnings to cover at least 85% of both sides of cigarette packages. The new regulations increase the size of the four-colour warnings from the current 55%. The 10 updated warnings depict the negative effects of smoking. In addition, the top portion of cigarette packages will be required to display tobacco cessation information, including a quitline number.

MAY 2013 - The National Assembly of Bangladesh passed the Tobacco Control Law Amendment Bill on 29 April 2013, closing many loopholes in the country's previous tobacco control law.

APRIL 2013 - The Minister of Health signed new Tobacco Control Regulations, which were published in the Government of Fiji Gazette on 8 February. In doing so the Minister was exercising the powers conferred by section 40 of the Tobacco Control Decree, adopted by the Cabinet in December 2010.

MAY 2013 - The first ever comprehensive tobacco control legislation in Viet Nam - a public health milestone for the country took effect on 1 May 2013, after being adopted by the National Assembly on 18 June 2012. The new law establishes smoke-free places, increases the size of graphic health warning labels, restricts tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship, and establishes a tobacco control fund.

Key contents of the law include the following:

APRIL 2013 - On 22 April 2013, in line with Act CXXXIV "on reducing smoking prevalence among young people and retail of tobacco products" (adopted by the Hungarian Parliament on 11 September 2012), the National Tobacco Trading Nonprofit Company (a 100% Government-owned joint-stock company established by the relevant minister under the mandate of this law) published the names of the applicants who will be allowed to open supervised tobacco stores.

APRIL 2013 - A comprehensive revision of the 2005 Tobacco Control Law was adopted by the Parliament of Mongolia and entered into force on 1 March 2013.

The main provisions of the new law include the following:

- State policy on tobacco control is now included in broader public health policy, with guiding principles for such policy, including protection from the interests of the tobacco industry;