New standards for tobacco and alcohol products have been designed by the Uzbekistani State Demonopolization committee and other agencies concerned, Central Asia News reports.

As of 1 January 2009, health warnings on the packages of  all tobacco products sold in Uzbekistan are to cover no less than 40 per cent of the pack’s surface. Meanwhile, the 27 million Central Asian nation has thus far neither signed nor ratified the FCTC. (vt)