Australian Lung Foundation State chairman and Launceston doctor James Markos said he congratulated Launceston City Council on moves to clean up Tamar Valley air pollution but more needed to be done.

Dr Markos said Launceston this winter met national air quality guidelines with less than five days of excess pollution, compared to 50 days a decade ago.

But he said tougher national guidelines were expected next year, meaning the valley's air would have to be cleaner still to meet the standard.

This involved moving from PM 10 to PM 2.5 particles, with the guidelines concentrating on smaller particles, a more difficult standard to meet.

Under the council 2008-2013 strategic plan, the council will report by 2011 on an action to "evaluate the introduction of a by- law that prevents the installation of wood heaters in homes".

Launceston this year has had only two days above the recommended air pollution maximum.

A council spokeswoman said the council would wait until 2011 to evaluate introducing a by-law banning new wood heaters.

Dr Markos said a woodheater ban would go well with the existing heater buyback and ban on backyard burning.

"Launceston has been a success story in Australia in reversing a pollution problem," he said.

"But it's not time for complacency because there are still problems.

"Because there is no safe level of woodsmoke."

Dr Markos said this year the city only breached the pollution guidelines a few times under the PM10 standard but had about 30 breaches under the PM2.5 guidelines, due to come into force next year.

"We are likely to be well above the 2.5 (standard)," he said.

"We need to reduce woodheater usage ... so it's very positive to phase out new heaters by 2011."