NOVEMBER 2011 - On 11 November 2011, Serbia celebrated the first anniversary of full enforcement of the Law on the Protection of the Population from Exposure to Tobacco Smoke. Among other measures, the law prohibits smoking in offices and public areas and strengthens the national coordination mechanism and infrastructure for implementation of the WHO FCTC in the country. On this occasion the Head of the Convention Secretariat, Dr Haik Nikogosian, was invited to visit the country.

NOVEMBER 2011 -Since 14 November 2011, the depiction of tobacco products in films and on television has been subject to new regulations. Anti-tobacco health spots or messages must now be shown during all films or programmes that depict tobacco products or their use. In addition, during any such depiction, anti-tobacco health warnings must be shown at the bottom of the screen.

NOVEMBER 2011 - On 1 November 2011, the Government of the United Arab Emirates approved a new regulation requiring that health warnings on cigarette packets include graphic pictures covering half of the packet. The regulation also bans the use of misleading terms such as "smooth, "silky", "light" or similar words characterizing the product. More information is available from Dr. Wedad AL-Maidoor, head of the tobacco control team of the Ministry of Health (wddalmaidoor@yahoo.com).

AUGUST 2011 - On 17 August 2011, the Lebanese Parliament adopted a new tobacco-control act. The most important provisions of the act include: a complete ban on smoking in all closed public places such as restaurants, cafes and public transport; a ban on tobacco companies from conducting any kind of advertising or sponsorship campaigns; and a warning that covers 40% of cigarette packs. Fines for non-compliance with the new smoke-free regulations will be applied to both the owners and the smokers themselves.

SEPTEMBER 2011 - A new provision makes it obligatory to show an image of cancer caused by smoking at points of sale of tobacco products. The image will be shown on the board already mandatory at such points of sale that states: "sale of tobacco products to a person below the age of eighteen years is a punishable offence". The new provision is aimed at deterring minors from purchasing tobacco products.

A joint mission to the Republic of Moldova by the Convention Secretariat and the WHO Regional Office for Europe took place on 22-25 August 2011. The purpose of the mission was to support finalization of the country's draft National Tobacco Control Programme and Action Plan 2012-2016 in line with the provisions of the WHO FCTC and the recommendations of the needs assessment jointly carried out with the Government at the end of 2010.

AUGUST 2011 -Effective 1 January 2014, tobacco vending machines will be illegal in Israel. This amendment of the 2001 tobacco control legislation was approved by the Israeli Parliament on 4 August 2011, and strengthened the country's current rules regarding the placement of tobacco vending machines. Until the ban comes into effect, the Ministry of Health was permitted to develop a regulation that prohibits the placement of tobacco vending machines within 1000 meters from education institutions.

JULY 2011 - The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare launched a mass media campaign on bidi smoking and its association with cardiovascular diseases under the National Tobacco Control Programme. This is the first government-sponsored mass media campaign in the world that links bidi smoking to heart health.

The campaign has been developed with technical support from the World Lung Foundation. Its main message is - "Quitting smoking is hard, but the consequence of not quitting is harder".

JULY 2011 - Some requirements of the anti-tobacco law approved by the Congress in June 2009 have entered into effect as of July 21. The new measures include a ban on all forms of tobacco-product advertising, promotion and sponsorship, as well as sales of cigarettes in packets of fewer than 10. Under the law, six new health warnings and pictograms must also appear on cigarette packets.

MAY 2011 - A resolution of the health ministry went into effect on 31 May 2011 banning smoking in both public and private indoor spaces, including workplaces and public transport. Notices must be displayed announcing that they are completely smoke-free. The law will be enforced with fines and a team of inspectors.

The scheduling of the law's implementation coincided with this year's World No Tobacco Day.