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Anti-smoking groups hailed Quebec’s new tobacco-control law Friday as a world precedent.

“We’re thrilled,” said Flory Doucas, co-director of the Quebec Coalition for Tobacco Control.

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“The minister (for Rehabilitation, Youth Protection and Public Health, Lucie) Charlebois delivered,” Doucas said.

Bill 44, first introduced in May, places limits on electronic cigarettes and smoking in public places, including outdoor café terrasses. It received unanimous support in the National Assembly.

Under the law, smoking on the outdoor terrasses of Montreal bars and restaurants will be prohibited — despite bar owners protesting this will cut down on business.

Doucas said the bill sets a world precedent in setting a minimum size for cigarette packages, thus preventing manufacturers from producing small, slim packs resembling a lipstick or iPod.

The smaller packs allowed manufacturers to shrink the size of health warnings which must cover 75 per cent of the front and back of cigarette packs under federal law, Doucas said.