FACTBOX: Smoking bans around the world

(Reuters) - Turkey's parliament approved on Thursday a sweeping ban on smoking in bars and restaurants.

The ban will be implemented in full 18 months after President Abdullah Gul has signed it into law.

The move comes hard on the heels of similar bans this week by France and Germany. Many other members of the European Union, which Turkey hopes to join, have also outlawed smoking in enclosed public places.

Ireland imposed the world's first nationwide ban on smoking in the workplace in 2004. U.S. states, including Florida and California, have had similar bans since 2003.

In November 2004, Bhutan became the first country to ban tobacco sales entirely.

Here is a factbox on some other countries that have banned smoking in some form in the past year.

2007:

* JANUARY:

-- Hong Kong: Imposes a ban on smoking in all indoor workplaces, as well as restaurants, parks and beaches. However, bars, nightclubs and mahjong parlors are exempt until 2009.

-- Belgium: A law comes into effect banning smoking in restaurants and other places where food is served, but it is allowed in bars, cafes, etc. mainly serving drinks. These places must have ventilation installed as long as they are at least 50 sq meters in area. Belgium had banned smoking in the workplace.

-- Lithuania: Smoking is banned in bars, restaurants, cafes, clubs, discotheques and, from January 2008, other public places.

* FEBRUARY:

-- France: Smoking is not allowed in most public places including schools, hospitals and youth centers.

* APRIL:

- Wales: Becomes the second country in the United Kingdom to ban smoking in enclosed public spaces.

-- Northern Ireland: Smokers face fines if they light up in pubs, offices and other indoor public places after a smoking ban came into force.