JANUARY 2013 - As of 1 January 2013, Republic Act No. 10351, which restructures the excise tax on alcohol and tobacco products, has been in force in the Philippines. The tax on cigarettes is now 12 Philippine pesos (P12), approximately US$ 0.3, per pack for those with a net retail price (excluding the excise tax and the 12% value added tax) of P11.50 and below. For those with a higher retail price, the tax is P25. The rates will go up to P17 and P27, respectively, in 2014, P21 and P28 in 2015, and P25 and P29 in 2016.

JANUARY 2013 - In line with the recommendations provided by the needs assessment exercise conducted jointly by the Government of Gambia and the Convention Secretariat in late 2012, Gambia will introduce a new tobacco taxation policy in January 2013.

DECEMBER 2012 -Congo's Parliament adopted in July 2012 legislation containing provisions banning smoking in public places and the sales of tobacco products to minors, forbidding tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship, and calling for health warnings on tobacco packages. The warnings may include pictures and cover at least 30% of any outside packaging of tobacco products, while the Minister of Health is requested to develop regulations in the area of health warnings.

OCTOBER 2012 -The Norwegian display ban on tobacco products came into effect on 1 January 2010, through an amendment of the 1973 Act relating to the Prevention of the Harmful Effects of Tobacco (the Tobacco Control Act)..

The Act prohibits the visible display of tobacco products, smoking accessories and also cards that allow customers to obtain tobacco products or smoking accessories from vending machines at the points of sale, including in duty-free areas.

OCTOBER 2012 -The Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety has rejected an application by a tobacco company to sell cigarettes containing menthol capsules in the filter, on the grounds of public health. The capsules can be opened by the smoker by crushing. The Federal Office noted that the capsules are aimed at increasing the attractiveness of the cigarettes, especially among young people.

The African regional meeting on implementation of the WHO FCTC held on 9-12 October 2012 brought together 38 countries from the African Region, including 36 Parties and 2 non-Parties to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC). The meeting was organized by the Convention Secretariat in cooperation with and hosted by the Government of Senegal.

JUNE 2012 - A new law has entered into force that has extended the country's existing smoking ban. Smoking is now prohibited on the premises of all restaurants, cafés and bars and in cultural, sport and government buildings (the ban previously covered health and education facilities). The new law also bans smoking at public transport stops in addition to the existing ban that covered public transport vehicles. However, smokers are still allowed to smoke outside in many outdoor public places.

MARCH 2012 - 
On 7 March 2012 the President of Iraq signed a new tobacco-control law with the overarching goals of protecting the public and creating a healthier environment. The new act introduces strong tobacco-control measures such as:

2012 - Matt Allen, - English

The Union's FCTC Article 5.3 Toolkit: Guidance for Governments on Preventing Tobacco Industry Interference provides step-by-step guidance on the key legislative and policy elements of a strategy to safeguard laws and policies from tobacco industry interference.

MAY 2012 - A ban on misleading descriptors (including "mild", "light", "ultra-light" and "low tar") on tobacco-product packaging will shortly be introduced in Singapore. This and other changes to the legislation on packaging were announced in February 2012. 

A new set of graphic health warnings are also being introduced, while the maximum tar and nicotine limits of tobacco products are being reduced (to 10 mg tar and 1 mg nicotine per stick). The printing of tar and nicotine yield levels on packaging will be replaced with a new health information requirement.