England and Wales (2011)

In December 2008 England and Wales announced that they would ban tobacco displays. 

Scotland (2011)

Scotland will decide if it will ban tobacco displays when legislation is tabled in 2009. 

Finland (2010)

Finland is scheduled to present a bill to parliament (which bans tobacco displays amongst other measures) by the end of June 2009. The government is aiming for the new law to come into effect at the beginning of 2010.

Norway (2009)

Norway is considering legislation which would ban tobacco displays. The ban could be in force as early as October 2009 if the new tobacco legislation is passed. 

Australia (2009 onwards)

A number of Australian states have passed or are in the process of passing, legislation to ban tobacco displays.

• In November 2008 New South Wales passed legislation banning tobaco displays. Supermarkets and chain stores will have six months to comply, smaller retailers 12 months. 
• Tasmania's Public Health Amendment Bill 2007 initially restricted cigarette displays in shops to one square metre from mid 2008 and will phase out all displays by 2011. 
• The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) passed legislation banning tobacco displays on 27 August 2008. 
• The Victorian Government will introduce a complete ban on tobacco point-of-sale displays in retail outlets by 1 January 2011, with an exemption for specialist tobacconists. 
• The Western Australian State Parliament is debating legislation to ban tobacco displays.
• The Quensland government is now coming under pressure to take action as it falls behind other states. 

Ireland (2009)

Ireland introduced a ban on the display of tobacco products in a 2004 Amendment to the Public Health (Tobacco) Act however its implementation was delayed as a result of litigation by tobacco companies. The companies dropped their legal challenge in 2007. In July 2008 Ireland introduced a ban on tobacco displays along with other measures. They will be put into effect in July 2009. 

Thailand (2005)

A complete ban on the retail display of tobacco was introduced in Thailand in 2005. Tobacco companies initially threatened to sue the Thai Ministry of Public Health when they introduced a ban on tobacco displays but this was not carried out and compliance is now high.

Canada (2002 onwards)

By mid 2009 all but one of Canada's Provinces and Territories will have a ban on tobacco displays in place.

Iceland (2001)

Iceland was the first jurisdiction in the world to place a complete ban on the visual display of tobacco which it introduced in 2001.