Mr Iger announced these changes in a letter to US congressman and chairman of the House Telecommunications Subcommittee Edward Markey, who said: "I am pleased that Disney is embracing a policy that is consistent with the long-term public health of the nation."
Martin Dockrell, a spokesman for UK anti-smoking group Ash, is reported to have said the news comes as "a really important first step," whilst American anti-tobacco organisation The American Legacy Foundation was in agreement and said the promise by Disney was "a good, solid step".
Smoking has not featured much in Disney's films for a family audience in recent years, although this has not always been the case – e.g. in 1961's One Hundred and One Dalmatians the evil Cruella De Vil has a cigarette holder showing in most scenes she is in.
