Legislation before the Icelandic parliament calls for the sale of tobacco products to be restricted to registered pharmacies, reports Icenews.

The proposal would ban tobacco sales in supermarkets, corner shops, petrol stations, aeroplanes and duty free stores. An exception would be made for sales at pharmacies with special tobacco licences.
The proposed law also stipulates that after ten years tobacco sales in pharmacies should be hindered further by requiring customers to undergo a tobacco assessment from their doctor. The idea would be for doctors to assess the level of a patients’ nicotine addiction and to have tried alternative therapies with them before writing a tobacco prescription.
Under the proposed new law, put forward by former health minister Siv Fridleifsdottir, Iceland would become one of the first countries in the world to restrict access to tobacco products by removing them from general sale.
As well as Siv Fridleifsdottir (Progressive Party), the measure is also sponsored by Thuridur Backman (Left Greens), Asta R. Johannesdottir (Social Democrats), Arni Johnsen (Independence Party), Margret Tryggvadottir (The Movement), Alfheidur Ingadottir (Left Greens), Thor Saari (The Movement), Olina Thorvardardottir (Social Democrats) and Eyglo Hardardottir (Progressive Party). (pi)