On 7 March 2012 the President of Iraq signed a new tobacco-control law with the overarching goals of protecting the public and creating a healthier environment. The new act introduces strong tobacco-control measures such as: - banning all forms of tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship;

• requiring written and pictorial health warnings on all packaging of tobacco products;
• banning the sale of tobacco products to and by minors;
• banning smoking in public places, including theatres, hotels, restaurants and shopping malls (but allowing designated smoking areas to be built within workplaces);
• providing incentives to tobacco growers to switch to alternative crops; and
• raising public awareness of the impacts of tobacco on health, the environment and the economy, by introducing programmes targeting the general public through schools and health organizations.

The law also regulates monitoring and enforcement, including sanctions for non-compliance, and foresees the development of regulations to ensure full implementation of the law.

http://www.who.int/fctc/implementation/news/news_ira/en/index.html