BRASILIA, Brazil -- The Marlboro cowboy is heading for the last roundup, but not as fast as some Brazilian lawmakers want.

The Chamber of Deputies passed a bill Wednesday night that will sharply limit cigarette sales, ads and smoking, but some restrictions will take effect only in 2003. The bill now goes to President Fernando Henrique Cardoso, who is expected to sign it into law. The bill bans smoking in planes and buses and prohibits the sale or distribution of cigarettes in schools and health care facilities. Starting in 2003, it also will ban the sponsorship of sports and cultural events by the tobacco industry. Some legislators wanted the sponsorship ban to take effect immediately. But Health Minister Jose Serra, who lobbied hard for the law, reportedly agreed to extend the deadline to preserve the traditional Brazilian Formula One auto race, which relies heavily on big tobacco sponsors.

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