Smoking in China
Current smoking prevalence in the general population in China has been decreasing in recent years. In 2000 around 30% of the population were current smokers; this decreased to 27% in 2015 and a further decrease to 25% is projected according to WHO trend estimates. Prevalence of smoking in men is high - in 2000 it was 56.5%; this decreased to 51% in 2015 and is projected to decrease to around 47% by 2025. For women the current smoking prevalence was only 3% in 2000, dropping to 2.5% in 2015 and projected to decrease to 2% by 2025. The WHO published prevalence trend estimates in tobacco smoking, as shown here, in their 2018 2nd edition report, which show slightly different smoking prevalence to the WHO country profiles. Data for the estimates are not age standardised, and were obtained from WHO databases. The trend lines are projections, not predictions, of future attainment. A projection indicates a likely endpoint if the country maintains its tobacco control efforts at the same level that it has implemented them to date. Therefore the impact of recent interventions could alter the expected endpoint shown in the projection. While the methods of estimation used in the first and second editions of the WHO report are the same, the volume of data available for the second edition is larger i.e. 200 more national surveys. The results presented are therefore more robust.
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July 29, 2023 by halfwheel.com
HONG KONG CONSIDERING GENERATIONAL TOBACCO BAN, HIGHER TAXES, PLAIN PACKAGING & MORE
Hong Kong is considering banning those born after a certain date from ever being able to purchase tobacco products, introducing plain packaging for tobacco products, increasing tobacco taxes and more. It’s all being considered as part of a wide-ranging survey from the Hong Kong Health Bureau as part of its Public Consultation on Tobacco Control Strategies, a survey that takes place between July 12-Sept. 30, 2023. Hong Kong’s government has set a goal of reducing the percentage of adults who smoke from 9.5 percent in 2021 to 7.8 percent by 2025. [...]
July 13, 2023 by scmp.com
Increasing Hong Kong’s tobacco tax every year will effectively discourage smoking, says health secretary
Hong Kong’s health chief has said increasing tobacco taxes every year is an effective way to discourage smoking but has stressed that authorities plan to consult the public on the issue.
Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau made the suggestion on Thursday, a day after his bureau launched a 2½-month public consultation on anti-smoking strategies, covering 14 proposed measures ranging from increasing tobacco tax to banning people born after a certain date from buying cigarettes.
July 13, 2023 by scmp.com
Lifetime ban on cigarettes for Hongkongers born after certain date proposed in public consultation on smoking
Banning Hongkongers born after a certain date from buying cigarettes is among measures in an open-ended public consultation on discouraging smoking, although insiders say some of the more controversial ideas were dropped. [...] The consultation, involving a citywide questionnaire, began on Wednesday and is expected to end on September 30.
March 22, 2023 by rti.org.tw
VIDEO: Vape ban officially enacted in Taiwan
Public health is a government priority. The increasing popularity of vaporized nicotine products has raised concerns about its impact on Taiwanese youths, so lawmakers are taking action to address the situation. Vaping, or consuming nicotine through vaporizing devices, has become increasingly popular, especially among teens.
Vapes were once touted as a potentially healthier alternative for smokers. However, starting last year, Taiwanese lawmakers began to propose legislation banning the import, sale, and manufacture of e-cigarettes, another term for vapes.
March 20, 2023 by nypost.com
Colorful Chinese-made e-cigarette Elf Bar using influencers to appeal to kids, Schumer says
Sen. Chuck Schumer is calling on the US Food and Drug Administration to investigate a hot, new Chinese-made e-cigarette that he believes is skirting American advertising laws by appealing directly to kids and teenager via social media.
The New York Democrat said the e-cig — called “Elf Bar” — is wrapped in colorful packaging to attract youthful customers. And it hooks them with kid-friendly flavors like rainbow candy, peach mango, cotton candy and vanilla ice cream, according to a Sunday statement.
February 13, 2023 by scmp.com
All cigarettes, illicit or legal, are a threat
Black market cigarettes may cast a shadow over plans to reduce smoking rates in the city through a proposed increase in tobacco taxes. A recent survey found about 80 per cent of users would rather buy cheaper illicit products than quit. While discouraging, the findings should not prevent the government from considering a tax disincentive and more law enforcement to hit its goal of cutting tobacco use from 9.5 per cent of the population to 7.8 per cent by 2025.
More than 2,000 smokers and non-smokers were approached for the survey by the Long-term Tobacco Policy Concern Group.
January 25, 2023 by filtermag.org
Taiwan Is About to Ban the Use of Nicotine Vapes
Taiwan looks set to become the next country in Asia to ban nicotine vaping products.
On January 12, amendments to the Tobacco Hazards Prevention Act effectively cleared the legislative floor. Now, the legislation only awaits a presidential nod—a formality given that President Tsai Ing-wen is from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party that proposed it.
The news, which arrives not long after the Philippines enacted relatively pro-vape regulations, has elicited strong reactions from consumers, policy experts and medical experts, who had some hopes that the tide might be turning in favor of tobacco harm reduction (THR).
January 13, 2023 by focustaiwan.tw
Bill to ban e-cigarettes clears legislative floor
Taipei, Jan. 12 (CNA) The Legislative Yuan on Thursday passed a slew of amendments to the Tobacco Hazards Prevention Act that completely ban e-cigarettes and raise the legal smoking age from 18 to 20.
The revisions introduced by the Cabinet in January last year stipulate that the manufacture, import, sale, supply, display, advertising and use of all tobacco-like products, including e-cigarettes, shall be prohibited.
Violators face fines ranging from NT$10 million (US$328,403) to NT$50 million, according to the new law.
November 24, 2022 by globaltimes.cn
China's State Tobacco Monopoly Administration and State Post Bureau to further regulate e-cigarettes delivery
The State Tobacco Monopoly Administration issued a notice on Wednesday in which it announced that the capacity of e-cigarette products, aerosol and nicotine used in e-cigarettes carried by each person at each time will be limited.
One person can carry no more than six smoking devices in different places at a time, said the notice. The number of e-cigarette cartridge shall not exceed 90, the number of products including disposable e-cigarettes sold in combination of e-cigarette cartridge and cigarette devices shall not exceed 90, and the amount of e-atomization materials such as liquid cigarette and nicotine used in e-cigarette shall not exceed 180 milliliters.
November 23, 2022 by sundayguardianlive.com
India faces heat on vaping laws
The Ministry of Health is facing heat following its ban on vaping, even as many countries are reversing such bans and arguing forcefully for the product. Hong Kong, not far from India, is soon going to reverse its ban on the re-export of e-cigarettes and other heated tobacco products by land and sea transport by the end of this year as part of efforts to ignite growth.
“Senior officials are mulling over the relaxation of the trans-shipment ban on re-exporting the alternative smoking products from Hong Kong, given the significant values of the re-export,” a senior government official was quoted. [...]