On Wed. July 6, Australian Minister for Health and Ageing Nicola Roxon introduced the Tobacco Plain Packaging Bill 2011 in the Australian Parliament, in the House of Representatives.

For the bill itself, and explanatory comment, click here, or visit the Australia page.

To view the government news release click here.

MINISTER FOR Health James Reilly is to initiate new legislation which will compel tobacco companies to include combined text and photographic warnings on packaging.

Dr Reilly said he hoped the proposed legislation, which was discussed by Cabinet this week, will be enacted before the Oireachtas summer recess.

At an NUI Galway health promotion conference yesterday, he said existing legislation to curb tobacco smoking was "not tough enough" and described the tobacco industry as a "powerful…

A Thai Ministry of Health Regulation on the use of misleading words or terms, and words or terms that can be interpreted as advertisement or attractiveness on cigarette packages was gazetted on June 22, 2011 and will become effective in 180 days, which will be on December 22, 2011.

The new regulation was an amendment of previous regulations banning the use of misleading terms effective since 2005. It now includes a ban of words or terms which convey attractiveness such as "cool", "ice",…