| Kippreport.com

UAE issues anti-tobacco law

January 6, 2010 5:29 by kippreport

The UAE President Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed al-Nahyan has issued a new federal law imposing restrictions on the use of tobacco and its products in the country, reports official news agency WAM. The law bans the import of tobacco and its by-products into the UAE unless specific requirements such as “clear word and image warnings on the box” are met.  It also bans advertising, promotion and sponsorship of tobacco products.

The law prohibits smoking on public transport and public closed places, and also bans using tobacco products while driving a vehicle if a child of less than 12 years is present.  It says that no license will be given to cafes or outlets serving any type of tobacco products inside residential buildings or near them. Smoking in places and houses of worship, educational, health and sports facilities is also banned.

The law also forbids selling of tobacco products to those less than 18 years.

Violators can be fined up to AED1 million along with a jail term of two years, the law states.

Tags: anti-smoking, law, tobacco, UAE