The Legislative Assembly of the Macau Special Administrative Region convened a plenary session to discuss and pass the bill amending Law No. 5/2011, the Prevention and Control of Smoking System. This move is a significant step in advancing the region's goal of establishing a smoke-free Macau.
Macau initially implemented its Prevention and Control of Smoking System, commonly known as the smoking control law, in 2012. The Macau SAR government, guided by principles of health promotion, tackling easier issues first, and gradual implementation, proposed this amendment following public consultation to better safeguard public health.
The revised legislation significantly expands outdoor no-smoking zones. It now prohibits smoking within a 10-meter radius of the entrances and exits of hospitals, health centers, kindergartens, nurseries, other childcare facilities, and primary and secondary schools.
While Macau already bans the manufacture, distribution, and import/export of electronic cigarettes, the new law introduces stricter controls. Due to the ease of concealing e-cigarettes and their reported use for illicit drug consumption in neighboring regions, the bill prohibits the consumption or possession of e-cigarettes in all public areas.
Furthermore, the amendments impose restrictions on the manufacture and distribution of nicotine pouches, herbal cigarettes, and hookahs. The bill mandates standardized packaging for tobacco products and increases the size of health warning labels on packaging. It also grants enforcement officers the authority to use body-worn cameras during inspections.
The new provisions are scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2027. Specifically, the ban on the consumption and possession of e-cigarettes will be enforced starting July 1, 2027. The regulations concerning standardized packaging and enlarged warning labels will be implemented from July 1, 2028.
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