Suva, Dec. 8 (Xinhua) -- The Fiji government has approved the Tobacco Control Decree 2010 which restricts the sale of cigarettes in the country, Fiji's Minister for Health said on Wednesday. The decree restricts advertising, sponsorship and promotion of tobacco products, regulates the labeling of tobacco product containers, restricts the nicotine and tar content of cigarettes, and bans the sale of cigarettes to persons less than the age of 18. It also restricts the smoking and selling of cigarettes in certain public places including bus stations and Internet shops. Fiji's Minister for Health Dr Neil Sharma said that the decree provides for mandatory registration of wholesalers, retailers and distributors of tobacco products. He said that registering all tobacco retailers will provide the Fiji government with a reasonably accurate and up-to-date database of all venues that sell tobacco products. 'Through the registration process, those who wish to be registered to sell cigarettes should comply with tax registration requirements and have valid business license including company registration, without this a business will be denied registration and can not sell tobacco products,'the minister said. Under the decree, all manufacturers and importers of tobacco products'must obtain an annual license from the Minister of Health, and pay a licensing fee,'he stressed. Sharma said the decree places more emphasis on the effective enforcement of tobacco sales to minors and smoking in public places. 