Select Committee on Health Appendices to the Minutes of Evidence


APPENDIX 40

Letter from the Minister of Health People's Republic of China to the Chairman of the Committee (TB 63)

  Thank you for your fax dated 1 February 2000. I am pleased to exchange ideas with you on the issue of tobacco and health.

  In my knowledge, China is the largest developing country and the world's largest tobacco consumer. The Ministry of Health of China has recognized that the effect of tobacco on health is an important public health issue. In order to protect the health of the public, Chinese governments at all levels have been actively facilitating the tobacco control program in the last 20 years, and implementing extensive health education on tobacco control. Meanwhile, large-scale promotion is being carried out annually in collaboration with the World No Tobacco Day initiated by WHO. In addition, the central government issued four regulations relating to tobacco control and other concerned byelaws and documents. So far, no advertisement can be found in mass media, and outdoor advertisements have been banned in some cities as well. Smoking is restricted in all domestic flights, as well as other public transportation means and waiting rooms. Local regulations on Tobacco Free in public areas have been stipulated in 88 cities, Tobacco Free Schools have been established among primary and middle schools, colleges and universities, thus, there are 12,000 schools entitled as "No Smoking Schools". In the meantime, NGOs carried out various tobacco controlling activities. Hence, tobacco control has caught great attention from the public, and the smoking rate is decreasing among some populations.

  Although China has achieved significant progress in tobacco control, the smoking rate is still very high, due to 400 years' tobacco use. In addition, tobacco is closely linked with economy, the smoking rate can not be reduced rapidly in a short period of time, therefore, China has to take painstaking and arduous efforts for a long term for the tobacco control cause. We think that tobacco control not only should be carried out domestically, but also need joint efforts of all countries in the world. Therefore, we support the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control of the World Health Organization. It is believed that we can gradually reduce the health hazard caused by tobacco with our active efforts.

  I would like to take this opportunity to learn about the attitudes and stands of the British government towards tobacco control and the progress made thereof.

24 Apil 2000


 
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