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.

MAY 2011 - A new notification of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare was issued on 27 May 2011, providing for strong pictorial warnings on both smoking and smokeless tobacco product packaging. Four pictures depicting lung and oral cancers will be published on such packaging from 1 December 2011. The warnings will be rotated every two years. More information can also be obtained from Dr Jagdish Kaur, Chief Medical Officer, Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (jagdish.kaur2010@gmail.com).

MAY 2011 - A resolution issued on 25 May 2011 by the Minister of Health and Sports requires picture warnings to appear on the lower 50% of the front and back of tobacco product packages. Seven warnings have been adopted. In addition, information on the toxic constituents of tobacco products is required on the side of packages. Written health warnings already cover 50% of the front and back of tobacco product packaging in the country.

APRIL 2011 - Malta has announced that it is now mandatory to include pictorial warnings on tobacco packaging, in response to non-compliance from several retailers to Legal Notice 302 of 2009 on the use of such warnings. The Environmental Health Directorate in Malta has warned retailers that any further non-compliance will result in legal action, adding that all existing stock which does not comply must be removed from sale by 22 June 2011.