Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Tobacco Product Regulation and Tobacco Industry Interference

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Tobacco Control in China

Abstract

China’s Tobacco Monopoly Law grants the State Tobacco Monopoly Administration (STMA)/China National Tobacco Corporation (CNTC) power to devise and enact any and all regulations related to tobacco products. Rather than strengthening regulations on the contents of tobacco products, STMA/CNTC has instead launched the “low tar, low harm” campaign, despite the mountain of scientific evidence debunking the claim. As its profits swelled, STMA’s chief scientist was rewarded with a prestigious academic title, causing strong public outcry. STMA/CNTC’s other efforts in countering tobacco control measures include its forcing the partial adoption of the Guidelines on Articles 9 and 10 of FCTC, thwarting attempts to regulate its use of additives such as Chinese herbal medicines designed to enhance the attractiveness and palatability of tobacco products. STMA/CNTC does not disclose to the public the contents and emissions of its tobacco products that are harmful to health, and its aggressive campaign of misinformation has caused widespread misperception among the public. Aside from traditional tobacco products, STMA has also been eying for novel products such as e-cigarettes, which are mass-produced in China but remain to be regulated. STMA has done little towards tobacco control and spent more energy maximizing the tobacco industry’s profits. In compliance with FCTC Article 5.3, other relevant government agencies, instead of STMA, should be given the authority to regulate tobacco products in China. The international tobacco control community should also be vigilant against interference from the Chinese tobacco industry.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
eBook
USD 16.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 129.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 179.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Notes

  1. 1.

    National People’s Congress of the People’s Republic of China. Law of the People’s Republic of China on Tobacco Monopoly, 2015. <http://www.tobacco.gov.cn/html/27/2701/270101/4830381_n.html>.

  2. 2.

    Tobacco Market, “Zhongguojuanyanpinpaishichangjingzhengfenxi [Analysis of Chinese cigarette brand market competition].” 2014. <http://www.etmoc.com/market/looklist.asp?id=31733>.

  3. 3.

    Tobacco China. “Chinese tobacco consolidation will stub out 200 brands”, 2004. <http://english.tobaccochina.net/english2012/englishnews_info_wh.aspx?id=13882>.

  4. 4.

    Martin, Andrew. “The Chinese Government Is Getting Rich Selling Cigarettes.” Bloomberg Businessweek. December 12, 2014. <https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2014-12-12/the-chinese-government-is-getting-rich-selling-cigarettes>.

  5. 5.

    National People’s Congress of the People’s Republic of China. Regulation on the Implementation of the Law of the People’s Republic of China on Tobacco Monopoly (2016 Revision). 2016. <://www.tobacco.gov.cn/html/27/2701/270101/4923724_n.html>.

  6. 6.

    State Tobacco Monopoly Administration.“Guojiayancaozhuanmaijuguanyuyinfayancaotianjiajixukeminglu de tongzhi (2011–278) [STMA Notice on list of permissible tobacco additives (2011-278)]”, State Tobacco Monopoly Administration, 2011. <http://www.tobacco.gov.cn/html/27/2701/270111/765336_n.html>.

  7. 7.

    United States National Cancer Institute. “Risks Associated with Smoking Cigarettes with Low Machine-Measured Yields of Tar and Nicotine”. Smoking and Tobacco Control Monograph 13 . Bethesda: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute, 2001.

  8. 8.

    United States Institute of Medicine. Clearing the Smoke: Assessing the Science Base for Tobacco Harm Prevention . Washington: National Academy Press, 2001.

  9. 9.

    Judge Kessler Final Opinion. United States v. Philip Morris., Civil Action Number 99-2496 (GK), 2006; <www.tobaccofreekids.org/reports/doj/FinalOpinion.pdf>.

  10. 10.

    U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The health consequences of smoking—50 years of progress: A report of the Surgeon General. Atlanta, Georgia: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Office on Smoking and Health; 2014.

  11. 11.

    Federal Trade Commission. Press Release: FTC rescinds guidance from 1966 on statements concerning tar and nicotine yields. FTC; 2008 <ftc.gov/opa/2008/11/cigarettetesting.shtm>.

  12. 12.

    Harris JE, Thun MJ, Mondul AM, Calle EE. Cigarette tar yields in relation to mortality from lung cancer in the cancer prevention study II prospective cohort, 1982-8. British Medical Journal 2004;10;328(7431):72.

  13. 13.

    Stellman SD, Muscat JE, Thompson S, Hoffmann D, Wynder EL. Risk of squamous cell carcinoma and ademocarcinoma of the lung in relation to lifetime filter cigarette smoking. Cancer 1997;80(3):382–8.

  14. 14.

    Russo A, Crosignani P, Franceschi S, Berrino F. Changes in lung cancer histological types in varese cancer registry. European Journal of Cancer 1997;33(10):1643–47.

  15. 15.

    Osann K. Epidemiology of lung cancer. Current Opinions in Pulmonary Medicine. 1998;4(4):198–204.

  16. 16.

    World Health Organization. “Guidelines for implementation of Article 11 of the WHO FCTC”, 2008. <http://www.who.int/entity/fctc/guidelines/article_11.pdf?ua=1>.

  17. 17.

    Yang G. Marketing ‘less harmful, low-tar’ cigarettes is a key strategy of the industry to counter tobacco control in China. Tob Control 2014;23:167–172.

  18. 18.

    Lei Z, Yang J, Chu G, et al. The past, present and future of cigarette tar reduction in china. Cigarette Technologies (In Chinese). 2003;5:29–31.

  19. 19.

    State Tobacco Monopoly Administration. “China Cigarette Science and Technology Outline”. 2003. <http://www.pkulaw.cn/fulltext_form.aspx?Gid=50388&Db=chl>.

  20. 20.

    Hvistendahl M. Tobacco Scientist’s Election Tars Academy’s Image.Science2012;335;153–154.

  21. 21.

    Zhu MX, Yang ZH, Cao ZS, et al. Shennong cuiquyejiangdijuanyanweihaizuoyong de xibaoshengwuxuepingjia [Cellular evaluation of the effect of Shengnong Extract on reducing harm of tobacco], China Tobacco Society 2002 Annual Conference Proceedings. China Academic Journal Publishing House, 1994-2012, http://www.cnki.net.

  22. 22.

    State Tobacco Monopoly Administration. “Tobacco Industry Mid- and Long-term Research and Development Plan (2006–2020)”. 2006. <http://www.tobacco.gov.cn/history_filesystem/07zzcx/ltbj-1.htm>.

  23. 23.

    Tobacco China Online. “Jianhaijiangjiao: kejichuangxinweizhichiweihuxiaofeizheliyi [Tar and harm reduction: technological innovation for consumer rights]”, 2011. <http://www.tobaccochina.com/zt/2011Lowcoke/djnew04.html>.

  24. 24.

    State Tobacco Monopoly Administration. “Guojiayancaozhuanmaijuguanyutiaozhengjuanyanhejiaoyouzuigaoxianliang de tongzhi (2012) 148 [STMA notice on promoting to improve risk of cigarettes by further reducing tar content (2012) 148]”. 2012. <http://www.mofcom.gov.cn/aarticle/b/g/201206/20120608163450.html>.

  25. 25.

    Jiang CK. Annual Meeting on Tobacco, 2010. <http://www.tobaccochina.com/news/China/highlight/20101/20101206213_392774.shtml>.

  26. 26.

    Tobacco China Online. “Zhongnanhai: qiangtandijiaohunhexingjuanyanshichang [Zhongnanhai: expanding into the low-tar market]”, 2004. <http://www.tobaccochina.com/zt/2004pandian/pinpai_con18.htm>.

  27. 27.

    Tobacco China Online.“2014 nian 1-5 yuefendijiaoyoujuanyanchanxiaoxingshi [Trend of Low tar cigarette manufacture and sales for Jan-May 2015]”, 2014. <http://tobaccochina.com/news/China/data/20147/2014710145749_630521.shtml>.

  28. 28.

    China National Tobacco Corporation.“2011 nianquanguodijiaoyoujuanyanfazhanzhuangkuang [National development of low-tar cigarettes in 2011]”, Eastern Tobacco, March 15, 2012. <http://www.eastobacco.com/dfycb/201203/t20120315_238958.html>.

  29. 29.

    Liu XZ. Pernicious effect on the tobacco control from harm reduction of cigarette by tobacco industry, F426.8;R193, 2009; China Center for Disease Control and Prevention. <http://cdmd.cnki.com.cn/Article/CDMD-84501-2009203572.htm>.

  30. 30.

    Gan Q and Glantz SA. Relationship between the Chinese tobacco industry and academic institutions in China. Tob Control 2011; 20(1): 12–19.

  31. 31.

    IOM (Institute of Medicine). 2012. Scientific Standards for Studies on Modified Risk Tobacco Products. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.

  32. 32.

    Gan Q, Lu W, Xu J, et al. Chinese ‘low-tar’ cigarettes do not deliver lower levels of nicotine and carcinogens. Tobacco Control 2010;19:374–379.

  33. 33.

    Gan Q, Yang J, Benowitz NL, et al. Chinese ‘herbal’ cigarettes are as carcinogenic and addictive as regular cigarettes. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2009;18:3497–501.

  34. 34.

    Schneller LM, Zwierzchowski BA, Caruso RV, et al. Changes in tar yields and cigarette design in samples of Chinese cigarettes, 2009 and 2012.Tobacco Control 2015;24Suppl 4:iv60–3.

  35. 35.

    Du YM, Xia XZ, Wang YB. The smoke tar and safety of the cigarettes. Chin Tob Sci 2002;(2):31–4.

  36. 36.

    Ministry of Science and Technology of the People’s Republic of China. “J-41juanyanweihaixingpingjiayukongzhitixijianliji qi yingying [Establishment and Application of A Cigarette Harm Evaluation and Control Framework]”, 2010. <http://www.most.gov.cn/cxfw/kjjlcx/kjjl2010/201101/t20110117_84334.htm>.

  37. 37.

    Wang CC. “Zhongshijuanyanjianhaixintansuo—xiezai ‘juanyanweihaixingpingjiayukongzhitixijianliji qi yingying’ xiangmuhuoguojiakexuejishujinbuerdengjiangzhiji [New exploration of harm reduction in Chinese-style cigarettes – in recognition of the project ‘Establishment and Application of A Cigarette Harm Evaluation and Control Framework’ winning Second Prize of National Science and Technology Progress Award]”, China Tobacco, Feb 1, 2011. <http://www.echinatobacco.com/zhongguoyancao/2011-02/01/content_250361.htm>.

  38. 38.

    Danny. “Qipilangchunyahuode ‘jiankangyanwang’ chenghao [Qipilang Chunya wins title of ‘King of Healthy Tobacco’]”, June 29, 2013, <http://www.yanpk.com/article-216.html>.

  39. 39.

    Li X, Nie C, Xie JP, et al. In vitro Cytotoxicity Assay for Mainstream Cigarette Smoke with Whole Smoke Exposure System[J]. Tobacco Science & Technology 2012 (5): 44–47.

  40. 40.

    Zheng, Yuxin. Speech at “Is ‘low tar, low harm’ science or scam?” Seminar. Jan 15, 2013. China Tobacco Control Resource Center. <http://www.tcalliance.org.cn/home/?action-viewthread-tid-22191>.

  41. 41.

    Wu, Yiqun. Speech at “Is ‘low tar, low harm’ science or scam?” Seminar. Jan 15, 2013. China Tobacco Control Resource Center. <http://www.tcalliance.org.cn/home/?action-viewthread-tid-22191>.

  42. 42.

    “Fall of the killer academician”. Global Times. March 27, 2013. <http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/771137.shtml>.

  43. 43.

    Shan, Juan. “Tobacco scientist uproar flares”. China Daily. December 16, 2011. <http://usa.chinadaily.com.cn/epaper/2011-12/16/content_14277674.htm>.

  44. 44.

    GATS China. Global Adult Tobacco Survey: China 2010 Country Report. 2010. <http://www.wpro.who.int/internet/files/chn/gats_china_report_en.pdf>.

  45. 45.

    China CDC, Report of China City Adult Tobacco Survey 2013–14.2015.edited b Liang XF, supported by CDC Foundation, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.

  46. 46.

    World Health Organization. “Articles 9 and 10 WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control - Regulation of the contents and disclosures of tobacco products”. <http://www.who.int/tobacco/industry/product_regulation/articles_9_10_fctc/en/>.

  47. 47.

    World Health Organization. “WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. Guidelines for Implementation”, 2011. <http://whqlibdoc.who.int/publications/2011/9789241501316_eng.pdf>.

  48. 48.

    Assunta M. Tobacco industry’s ITGA fights FCTC implementation in the Uruguay negotiations. Tob Control 2012;21(6):563–8.

  49. 49.

    World Health Organization. “List of Participants FCTC/COP/4/DIV/1 Rev.1”, 2010. <http://apps.who.int/gb/fctc/PDF/cop4/COP4_DIV_Rev1.pdf>.

  50. 50.

    Wu Yiqun. “2010 FCTC COP4”.China Tobacco Control Resource Center. <http://www.360doc.com/content/11/0618/08/128196_127747684.shtml>.

  51. 51.

    World Health Organization. “Glossary of Terms Used in the WHO FCTC and Its Instruments”. <http://www.who.int/fctc/reporting/en_glossary_final.pdf>.

  52. 52.

    World Health Organization. Conference of the Parties to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, Fourth Session. Punta Del Este, Uruguay. 2010. Summary Records of Committees, Pg 43, FCTC/COP/4/REC/3. <http://apps.who.int/gb/fctc/PDF/cop4/FCTC_COP4_REC3-en.pdf>.

  53. 53.

    Zhou RZ and Cheng YZ, eds., Research on Counterproposals to WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and Countermeasures to Address its Impacts on Chinese Tobacco, Beijing, China: Economic Science Press, 2006.

  54. 54.

    State Tobacco Monopoly Administration. “Zhongguogongchengyuanyuanzhang Zhou Ji kaocha Hubei Zhongyanhuangheloukejiyuan [President of Chinese Academy of Engineering Zhou Ji vists Hubei Tobacco’s Huanghelou Science Park]”. Aug 27, 2010. <http://www.tobacco.gov.cn/html/54/2821731_n.html>.

  55. 55.

    World Health Organization. Partial guidelines for implementation of Articles 9 and 10 of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. <http://www.who.int/fctc/guidelines/Decisions9and10.pdf>.

  56. 56.

    Meng DL and Liu SH. The Development and Application of Herbal Medical Additions to Chinese Cigarettes. Chinese Tobacco Science 2006,(3): 19–21.

  57. 57.

    “30 weiyuanshilianmingfanduizhongshijuanyanruweikejijiang [30 Academicians jointly oppose Chinese-style cigarettes being shortlisted for technology award]”.China Science Daily. Apr 10, 2012. <http://news.sciencenet.cn/htmlnews/2012/4/262463.shtm>.

  58. 58.

    IARC Working Group on Methods for Evaluating Tobacco Control Policies, Methods for Evaluating Tobacco Control Policies, Tobacco Control Vol 12, International Agency for Research on Cancer, 2008, Lyon.

  59. 59.

    Richter, AP. Best practices in implementation of Article 9 of the WHO FCTC Case study: Brazil and Canada. National Best Practices Series. WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. 2015.

  60. 60.

    Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of the People’s Republic of China. “China Tobacco Control Plan (2012-2015)”, 2012. <http://www.miit.gov.cn/n1146295/n1146562/n1146650/c3074390/part/3074391.pdf>.

  61. 61.

    Barboza, David. “China’s E-Cigarette Boom Lacks Oversight for Safety”. New York Times. Dec. 13, 2014; <http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/14/business/international/chinas-ecigarette-boom-lacks-oversight-for-safety-.html>.

  62. 62.

    Shan, Juan. “E-cigarette controls considered for safety”. China Daily. January 7, 2015. <http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2015-01/07/content_19255939.htm>.

  63. 63.

    Shan, Juan. “Promotion of e-cigarettes should stop”. China Daily. September 3, 2014. <http://europe.chinadaily.com.cn/opinion/2014-09/03/content_18537764_2.htm>.

  64. 64.

    E-cigarette Online. “Ling Chengxing: gaoduzhongshidianziyandengxinxingyancaozhipinyanfa [Ling Chengxing: highly value the research and development of novel tobacco products including e-cigarettes]”, 2015. <http://news.yanyue.cn/?viewnews-13521>.

  65. 65.

    Yunnao Tobacco Inc. “Yunnan zhongyanzizhuzuzhuang de shouzhidianziyanxiaxian [Yunnan Tobacco’s first independently assembled e-cigarette comes off assembly line]”, 2016. <http://www.fjycw.com/News/201607/20160704505417.shtml>.

  66. 66.

    Tang, Aiping and Liang, Fen. “Hunan yancaochuangxinzhengxianchengguofengshuo [Hunan Tobacco’s fruitful innovation]”. Hunan Daily, Sept 27, 2016. <http://www.tobaccochina.com/qita/20169/201692615466_736996.shtml>.

  67. 67.

    Li B, A global perspective on electronic cigarette’s future development and related controversial and regulatory issues. Acta Tabacaria Sinica 2014;20; 2;101–0.

  68. 68.

    Fan M, Zhao L, Cui H, Guo J, Liu S, Chen L, Liu H. Current situation of electronic cigarette regulation and development of legislation in various countries. Acta Tabacaria Sinica 2016;22;6;126–132.

  69. 69.

    Feldman EA and Chai Yue, “E-Cigarette Regulation in China: The Road Ahead. University of Pennsylvania Law School”. Penn Law: Legal Scholarship Repository. 2016.

  70. 70.

    Jiang, Fenfen. “Niandi Guojia Youwang Chutai Yancao Zhuanmai Sifa Jieshi Han Dianzi Yan [Tobacco Monopoly Law Judicial Interpretation Hopefully To Be Issued by the End of the Year, Which Would Include Electronic Cigarettes]”. Jinling Evening News, Dec. 4, 2013. <http://js.people.com.cn/html/2013/12/04/272979.html>.

  71. 71.

    World Health Organization. “Article 5.3 of WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control”. <http://www.who.int/fctc/protocol/guidelines/adopted/article_5_3/en/index.html>.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, Paris, France

    Hanbing Guo

Authors
  1. Hanbing Guo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hanbing Guo .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China

    Gonghuan Yang

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2018 Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Guo, H. (2018). Tobacco Product Regulation and Tobacco Industry Interference. In: Yang, G. (eds) Tobacco Control in China. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-8315-0_10

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-8315-0_10

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore

  • Print ISBN: 978-981-10-8314-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-981-10-8315-0

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation