An Overview of Tobacco Control Policies in China
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Published
Oct 28, 2024
Abstract
The tobacco epidemic is a global public health concern as the toxic substances in tobacco pose a severe threat to human health. In response to this issue, countries around the world have adopted various strategies to control tobacco use. The Chinese government began to pay attention to the health hazards of smoking in the 1970s and joined the international community in tobacco control endeavors by becoming a signatory of the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control in the early 21st century. It has further intensified its tobacco control measures in recent years with its “Healthy China” strategy. This article gives an overview of tobacco control policies released by the Chinese government over the years, with a separate analysis of the provisions on smoking control stipulated in the Health China Action Plan (2019-2030). Also discussed are the outcomes of those policies and the challenges China faces in tobacco control, as well as the lessons China can learn from international experiences in this regard.
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Keywords
Tobacco Control Policy, Smoking Control, China
Supporting Agencies
No funding source declared.
References
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Flor, L. S., Reitsma, M. B., Gupta, V., Ng, M., & Gakidou, E. (2021). The effects of tobacco control policies on global smoking prevalence. Nature Medicine, 27(2), 239-243. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-020-01210-8
Freeman, B. (2012). New media and tobacco control. Tobacco Control, 21(2), 139-144. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2011-050193
Kaur, J., & Jain, D. C. (2011). Tobacco control policies in India: implementation and challenges. Indian Journal of Public Health, 55(3), 220-227. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4103/0019-557X.89941
Levy, D. T., Tam, J., Kuo, C., Fong, G. T., & Chaloupka, F. (2018). The impact of implementing tobacco control policies: the 2017 tobacco control policy scorecard. Journal of Public Health Management and Practice, 24(5), 448-457. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/PHH.0000000000000780
Li, Y. & Zhai, S. (2016). Changes in China’s Tobacco Control Policies from the Perspective of the Advocacy Alliance. Journal of Shandong Technology and Business University, 30(5), 96-102. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3969/j.Issn.1672-5956.2016.05.015
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National Health and Family Planning Commission of China. (2014). Regulations on Smoking Control in Public Places (Draft). Available at: http://politics.people.com.cn/n/2014/1124/c1001-26083775.html
Pei, T. & Yang, T. (2022). Behavioral changes: assessment of tobacco hazards and perceptions of tobacco control policies - A qualitative study from China. (Eds.) Compilation of abstracts of papers from the 11th Mainland-Taiwan-Hong Kong-Macau Tobacco Prevention and Control Symposium; the 23rd National Symposium on Tobacco Control and Public Health (pp.32). Zhejiang University of Chinese Medicine; Zhejiang University. DOI: https://doi.org/10.26914/c.cnkihy.2022.043757
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Qiu, D., Song, F., Feng, Z, Chen, Z., Mei, Y., & Chen, T. (2021). Local tobacco control policies in China: A content analysis. Modern Preventive Medicine, 48(04):681-684. Available at: https://kns.cnki.net/kcms2/article/abstract?v=acR2UJ02YhQjvSdkSTW3l3vZNcpGT3vfFTap9ehVy2l_AQVpKS9g-0RabNWOM-sV54jUZEVXID7q2y2dRCYrMdyjl3vRmGA-a9o5fz3EjgVenE5HjRSZhNUBdZD-tILRi4403gQIQYtFl505LMjcZ0GYcxZj_d3g3_PLcwzgQsaFpgQjyE2JgA==&uniplatform=NZKPT&language=CHS
Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China. (1991). The Tobacco Monopoly Law of China. Available at: https://www.gov.cn/banshi/2005-09/01/content_69771.htm
Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China. (1994). The Advertising Law of China. Available at: https://www.gov.cn/guoqing/2021-10/29/content_5647620.htm
Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China. (2020a). The Minors Protection Law of China. Available at: http://en.npc.gov.cn.cdurl.cn/2020-10/17/c_674690.htm
Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China. (2020b). The Juvenile Delinquency Prevention Law of China. Available at: https://www.gov.cn/xinwen/2020-12/26/content_5573648.htm
State Administration of Radio, Film, and Television. (2006). Regulations on the Censorship of Films and Film Scripts (Synopsis). Available at: https://www.gov.cn/ziliao/flfg/2006-06/06/content_301444.htm
State Council of China. (2016). The Outline of the Healthy China Strategy 2030. Available at: https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/2016-10/25/content_5124174.htm
State Council of China. (2019). The Healthy China Action Plan (2019-2030). Available at: http://www.nhc.gov.cn/guihuaxxs/s3585u/201907/e9275fb95d5b4295be8308415d4cd1b2/files/470339610aea4a7887d0810b4c00c9bd.pdf
State Tobacco Monopoly Administration. (2022). Regulations on Electronic Cigarette Use. Available at: https://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2022/content_5697988.htm
Warner, K. E., & Mendez, D. (2010). Tobacco control policy in developed countries: yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Nicotine & Tobacco Research, 12(9), 876-887. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/ntr/ntq125
World Health Organization. (2003). WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. Available at: https://fctc.who.int/who-fctc/overview
Zhang, F., Yang, S., Zhang, W., Shen, K., Jiang, Y. & Xi, C. (2024). Analysis of monitoring results of smoking control in public places in Songjiang District, Shanghai 2017-2021. Journal of Preventive Medicine Information, 40(6), 699-705. DOI: https://doi.org/10.19971/j.cnki.1006-4028.230290
Zhuang, R. & Lao, Z. (2023). The establishment of tobacco control indicators and comprehensive evaluation of the tobacco control work. (Eds.) Compilation of abstracts of papers from the 24th National Symposium on Tobacco Control and Public Health (pp.40). Shenzhen Health Education and Promotion Center; Shenzhen Health Monitoring Bureau. DOI: https://doi.org/10.26914/c.cnkihy.2023.118979
Chen, Q., Long, Z., Ji, N., Yin, P., & Bai, Y. (2023). Evaluation of the effectiveness of urban tobacco control policies in China based on national mortality monitoring data. (Eds.) Compilation of abstracts of papers from the 24th National Symposium on Tobacco Control and Public Health (pp.32). Chronic Non-communicable Disease Prevention and Control Office of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention. DOI: https://doi.org/10.26914/c.cnkihy.2023.118964
Chen, T., Huang, M., & Zhang, Z. (2023). The impact of local smoking control policies on smoking behaviors in public places: An analysis based on the difference in differences method. (eds.) Compilation of abstracts of papers from the 24th National Symposium on Tobacco Control and Public Health (pp.20). Institute of Social Development and Health Management, School of Public Health, Wuhan University of Science and Technology; Hubei Province’s Key Laboratory of Occupational Hazard Detection and Control. DOI: https://doi.org/10.26914/c.cnkihy.2023.118947
Civil Aviation Administration of China. (1992). A Circular on Progressively Realizing Smoke-Free Cabins on Domestic Passenger Flights. Available at: http://www.catcprc.org.cn/index.aspx?menuid=21&type=articleinfo&lanmuid=182&infoid=1294&language=cn
Disease Prevention and Control Office of the Ministry of Health of China. (1985a). A Circular on Strengthening the Publicity of the Health Hazards of Smoking and Promoting Smoking Cessation. Available at: http://www.catcprc.org.cn/index.aspx?menuid=21&type=articleinfo&lanmuid=182&infoid=1256&language=cn
Disease Prevention and Control Office of the Ministry of Health of China. (1985b). Regulations on Prohibiting Spitting, Littering, and In-Compartment Smoking on Passenger Trains. Available at: http://www.catcprc.org.cn/index.aspx?menuid=21&type=articleinfo&lanmuid=182&infoid=1293&language=cn
Disease Prevention and Control Office of the Ministry of Health of China. (1987). A Circular on Prohibiting Smoking in Places for Children’s Activities.
Flor, L. S., Reitsma, M. B., Gupta, V., Ng, M., & Gakidou, E. (2021). The effects of tobacco control policies on global smoking prevalence. Nature Medicine, 27(2), 239-243. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-020-01210-8
Freeman, B. (2012). New media and tobacco control. Tobacco Control, 21(2), 139-144. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2011-050193
Kaur, J., & Jain, D. C. (2011). Tobacco control policies in India: implementation and challenges. Indian Journal of Public Health, 55(3), 220-227. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4103/0019-557X.89941
Levy, D. T., Tam, J., Kuo, C., Fong, G. T., & Chaloupka, F. (2018). The impact of implementing tobacco control policies: the 2017 tobacco control policy scorecard. Journal of Public Health Management and Practice, 24(5), 448-457. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/PHH.0000000000000780
Li, Y. & Zhai, S. (2016). Changes in China’s Tobacco Control Policies from the Perspective of the Advocacy Alliance. Journal of Shandong Technology and Business University, 30(5), 96-102. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3969/j.Issn.1672-5956.2016.05.015
Mackay, J., Ritthiphakdee, B., & Reddy, K. S. (2013). Tobacco control in Asia. The Lancet, 381(9877), 1581-1587. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(13)60854-5
Ministry of Health of China. (1979). A Circular on the Publicity of the Hazards of Smoking and Tobacco Control. Available at: http://www.catcprc.org.cn/index.aspx?menuid=21&type=articleinfo&lanmuid=182&infoid=1254&language=cn
Ministry of Health of China. (2009). A Total Ban on Smoking in Domestic Healthcare Institutions from 2011. Available at: https://www.gov.cn/zwgk/2009-05/22/content_1321944.htm
Ministry of Health of China. (2011). Implementation Rules for Regulating Health Issues in Public Places. Available at: https://www.gov.cn/flfg/2011-03/22/content_1829432.htm
Murray, C. J., Aravkin, A. Y., Zheng, P., Abbafati, C., Abbas, K. M., Abbasi-Kangevari, M., ... & Borzouei, S. (2020). Global burden of 87 risk factors in 204 countries and territories, 1990–2019: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. The Lancet, 396(10258), 1223-1249. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30752-2
National Health Commission of China. (2021). The Report on the Health Hazards of Smoking in China 2020. Available at: https://www.gov.cn/xinwen/2021-05/30/content_5613994.htm
National Health Commission of China. (2024). The Report on Adolescent Tobacco Use in China 2023 released on the 37th World No Tobacco Day. Available at: https://baijiahao.baidu.com/s?id=1800558513204123484&wfr=spider&for=pc
National Health and Family Planning Commission of China. (2014). Regulations on Smoking Control in Public Places (Draft). Available at: http://politics.people.com.cn/n/2014/1124/c1001-26083775.html
Pei, T. & Yang, T. (2022). Behavioral changes: assessment of tobacco hazards and perceptions of tobacco control policies - A qualitative study from China. (Eds.) Compilation of abstracts of papers from the 11th Mainland-Taiwan-Hong Kong-Macau Tobacco Prevention and Control Symposium; the 23rd National Symposium on Tobacco Control and Public Health (pp.32). Zhejiang University of Chinese Medicine; Zhejiang University. DOI: https://doi.org/10.26914/c.cnkihy.2022.043757
Peruga, A., López, M. J., Martinez, C., & Fernández, E. (2021). Tobacco control policies in the 21st century: achievements and open challenges. Molecular Oncology, 15(3), 744-752. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/1878-0261.12918
Qiu, D., Song, F., Feng, Z, Chen, Z., Mei, Y., & Chen, T. (2021). Local tobacco control policies in China: A content analysis. Modern Preventive Medicine, 48(04):681-684. Available at: https://kns.cnki.net/kcms2/article/abstract?v=acR2UJ02YhQjvSdkSTW3l3vZNcpGT3vfFTap9ehVy2l_AQVpKS9g-0RabNWOM-sV54jUZEVXID7q2y2dRCYrMdyjl3vRmGA-a9o5fz3EjgVenE5HjRSZhNUBdZD-tILRi4403gQIQYtFl505LMjcZ0GYcxZj_d3g3_PLcwzgQsaFpgQjyE2JgA==&uniplatform=NZKPT&language=CHS
Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China. (1991). The Tobacco Monopoly Law of China. Available at: https://www.gov.cn/banshi/2005-09/01/content_69771.htm
Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China. (1994). The Advertising Law of China. Available at: https://www.gov.cn/guoqing/2021-10/29/content_5647620.htm
Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China. (2020a). The Minors Protection Law of China. Available at: http://en.npc.gov.cn.cdurl.cn/2020-10/17/c_674690.htm
Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China. (2020b). The Juvenile Delinquency Prevention Law of China. Available at: https://www.gov.cn/xinwen/2020-12/26/content_5573648.htm
State Administration of Radio, Film, and Television. (2006). Regulations on the Censorship of Films and Film Scripts (Synopsis). Available at: https://www.gov.cn/ziliao/flfg/2006-06/06/content_301444.htm
State Council of China. (2016). The Outline of the Healthy China Strategy 2030. Available at: https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/2016-10/25/content_5124174.htm
State Council of China. (2019). The Healthy China Action Plan (2019-2030). Available at: http://www.nhc.gov.cn/guihuaxxs/s3585u/201907/e9275fb95d5b4295be8308415d4cd1b2/files/470339610aea4a7887d0810b4c00c9bd.pdf
State Tobacco Monopoly Administration. (2022). Regulations on Electronic Cigarette Use. Available at: https://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2022/content_5697988.htm
Warner, K. E., & Mendez, D. (2010). Tobacco control policy in developed countries: yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Nicotine & Tobacco Research, 12(9), 876-887. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/ntr/ntq125
World Health Organization. (2003). WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. Available at: https://fctc.who.int/who-fctc/overview
Zhang, F., Yang, S., Zhang, W., Shen, K., Jiang, Y. & Xi, C. (2024). Analysis of monitoring results of smoking control in public places in Songjiang District, Shanghai 2017-2021. Journal of Preventive Medicine Information, 40(6), 699-705. DOI: https://doi.org/10.19971/j.cnki.1006-4028.230290
Zhuang, R. & Lao, Z. (2023). The establishment of tobacco control indicators and comprehensive evaluation of the tobacco control work. (Eds.) Compilation of abstracts of papers from the 24th National Symposium on Tobacco Control and Public Health (pp.40). Shenzhen Health Education and Promotion Center; Shenzhen Health Monitoring Bureau. DOI: https://doi.org/10.26914/c.cnkihy.2023.118979
How to Cite
Wu, S. (2024). An Overview of Tobacco Control Policies in China. Science Insights, 45(4), 1603–1609. https://doi.org/10.15354/si.24.re1089
Section
Review
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