China is stepping up efforts to produce low-tar cigarettes for
the sake of consumers' health, as the country's tobacco industry
regulator has ordered that cigarettes manufactured after July 1,
2004, and containing over 15 milligrams of tar each cannot be sold
on the domestic market.
"Those cigarettes that fail to meet the standards will be sealed
up and destroyed," said the State Tobacco Monopoly Administration,
adding that the move was adopted to better satisfy the needs of the
market and consumers, to lower the tar content in cigarettes
further, and to reduce the harm brought by cigarettes.
However, the administration noted, tobacco producers can still
sell cigarettes with over 15 milligrams of tar if they were
manufactured before July 1.
The administration requires all local tobacco quality
supervision authorities to enhance checks on cigarettes
manufactured after July 1.
One cigarette contains 2,000 different chemicals, including
carbon monoxide; nicotine, which is addicting; and tar, which can
cause cancer.
China is the world's biggest tobacco producer and consumer, with
approximately 300 million smokers.
Every year, nearly one million Chinese die of diseases related
to tobacco smoking.
In November last year, China signed the Framework Convention on
Tobacco Control (FCTC), promising to lower the tar content in
cigarettes to 12 milligrams.
In fact, the tobacco administration first began placing
limitations on tar content four years ago. By 2003, the average tar
content per cigarette was 14.3 milligrams, down from 27 milligrams
in 1983.
(Xinhua News Agency June 30, 2004)