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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.

Read articles from China

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. [...]

November 07, 2022 by tobaccoreporter.com

Hong Kong Mulls Generational Cigarette Ban

Hong Kong residents who were born in 2009 or after should be banned from buying cigarettes by 2027, the Council on Smoking and Health proposed on Nov. 3, reports the South China Morning Post

The city’s smoking population dropped to 9.5 percent last year—hitting single digits for the first time since tracking began—but Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu has pledged to lower the rate to 7.8 percent in three years.

Other measures proposed include doubling the current tobacco tax by 2023-2024, which means a pack of cigarettes currently priced at HKD60 ($7.64) would rise to around HKD100. [...]

October 28, 2022 by scmp.com

Hong Kong may reverse ban on some types of re-export of e-cigarettes and other heated tobacco products

Hong Kong may 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, the Post has learned.

But an economist on Monday warned the move would undermine the credibility of city authorities if they backtracked on their promise to curb tobacco use and also weaken the promotion of public health.

“Senior officials are mulling over the relaxation of the transshipment ban on re-exporting the alternative smoking products from Hong Kong, given the significant values of the re-export,” a government insider said.

October 25, 2022 by reuters.com

China to impose consumption tax on e-cigarettes from November

 China's Ministry of Finance will impose a consumption tax on e-cigarettes from Nov. 1, according to a notice published on Tuesday.

A tax rate of 36% will be placed on the production or import of e-cigarettes, while an 11% tax will be placed on the wholesale distribution of e-cigarettes.

The taxation policy will further entrench China's once-scattered e-cigarette industry into the state-backed tobacco monopoly, a major generator of tax revenue.

October 18, 2022 by scmp.com

Hong Kong may reverse ban on some types of re-export of e-cigarettes and other heated tobacco products

Hong Kong may 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, the Post has learned.

But an economist on Monday warned the move would undermine the credibility of city authorities if they backtracked on their promise to curb tobacco use and also weaken the promotion of public health.

“Senior officials are mulling over the relaxation of the transshipment ban on re-exporting the alternative smoking products from Hong Kong, given the significant values of the re-export,” a government insider said.

October 17, 2022 by theguardian.com

China bans fruity vapes – but not their export to the UK

China has banned the sale of flavoured e-cigarettes as part of a wide-ranging crackdown on the industry. The new rules mean vapes that have flavourings other than tobacco – such as those that taste fruity or sweet – cannot be sold on the domestic market.

But they can still be manufactured in China to be shipped around the world, including to the UK, where Chinese-made brands such as Elfbar, known for its range of flavoured disposable vapes, are popular.

October 06, 2022 by tobaccoreporter.com

China: Flavored E-cigarettes Still Available After Ban

Many businesses in China continued selling fruit-flavored e-cigarettes after a ban on such products took effect Oct. 1.

A journalist working for Beijing Youth Daily reportedly found several stores violating the new rules, while a small number appeared to have closed.

In stores that are still in operation, the reporter saw only an estimated six vaping product on display, with only two or three varieties of products. Some stores experienced increased sales of combustible tobacco products.

September 30, 2022 by shine.cn

National standards for e-cigarettes to take effect on October 1

Dubbed as an access threshold for the industry, mandatory national standards for e-cigarettes will go into effect on October 1.

The standards stipulate that the nicotine concentration in e-cigarettes should not be higher than 20mg/g, and the total amount of nicotine should not be higher than 200mg. [...]

Electronic cigarettes must also have protection functions to prevent the devices from being turned on by a child or by accident.

All fruit-flavored electronic cigarettes will be banned. The national unified e-cigarette trading management platform only provides tobacco-flavored e-cigarettes.

August 30, 2022 by macaubusiness.com

Government approves law against e-cigarettes, total ban possible

The Macau parliament yesterday (Monday) approved an amendment to the law on smoking prevention and control that prohibits the manufacture, distribution, import, export and transport in and out of the SAR of electronic cigarettes.

The law provides for penalties of MOP4,000 (US$500) for individuals, with a fine of between MOP20,000 and MOP200,000 for companies.

Although the proposal was unanimously approved, during the debate in the Legislative Assembly, several members said that the government should go further, and impose a total ban on electronic cigarettes.

August 24, 2022 by natlawreview.com

A Closer Look at China’s New E-Cigarette Regulations

With the implementation of the Management Rules of E-cigarettes and the forthcoming effective date for the GB Standard on E-cigarettes (October 1, 2022), China has been regularly updating its e-cigarette regulations. Following up on our recent articles on China’s GB Standard and manufacturer license requirements, below we summarize various e-cigarette regulations recently promulgated by the State Tobacco Monopoly Administration (STMA).