Macau advances stricter nicotine control
The Third Standing Committee of the Legislative Council of Macao has completed its consideration of the amendments to the city's tobacco control law and adopted the government's proposal before the final legislative vote, which put Macao at a
The Third Standing Committee of the Legislative Council of Macao has completed its consideration of the amendments to the city's tobacco control law and adopted the government's proposal before the final legislative vote, bringing Macao one step closer to implementing stricter tobacco control. The bill would expand non-smoking areas to within 10 meters of hospitals, health centers, and schools; prohibit the possession or use of e-cigarettes in non-smoking areas and certain public outdoor areas; and prohibit the manufacture, sale, import, and export of nicotine bags, herbal cigarettes, and hookahs. The bill also raises the fine for cross-border illegal bringing of these products into Macau from MOP4,000 to MOP10,000 (about US $480 to US $1,200), while requiring health warning labels on both sides of cigar packages to cover 70% of the area. If approved, most provisions will go into effect on January 1, 2027, while standardized tobacco packaging and expanded warning labels will be phased in on July 1, 2028.
