The Ministry of Health is to revise smoking regulations in order
to ban the noxious activity in public areas, public transport and
indoor work places.
Ministry spokesman Mao Qun'an said it had begun revising health
management regulations in public areas, which will be submitted to
the central government for examination and approval.
"Educational and medical institutions, and places offering
services to children will be among the first places with smoking
bans," he said.
The revisions will offer policy support in the run-up to a
non-smoking Beijing Olympic Games in 2008.
In August last year, the Standing Committee of the National
People's Congress (NPC), China's legislature, ratified the World
Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control,
banning tobacco vending machines.
The treaty also institutes a ban on all tobacco advertising,
promotion and sponsorship in all forms of media within five years.
It also prohibits any kind of tobacco sponsorship during
international events and activities.
China is obligated to submit a report to the WHO in 2008 on its
implementation of the treaty.
A consulting committee of experts wil offer advice to the
government on this process, focusing on testing methods and
standards for habit-breaking products for smokers.
The State Tobacco Monopoly Administration estimates that China
has over 350 million smokers, about a third of the world's smoking
population. Each year, about 700,000 die from smoking-related
diseases.
(Xinhua News Agency December 12, 2006)