Health body to enforce smoking bans

China’s National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC) is to follow the example set by the country’s central authorities and build a non-smoking environment in all government-affiliated institutions, according to a story in the People’s Daily.

The General Office of the Communist Party of China’s Central Committee and the State Council, the country’s cabinet, jointly released a notice on December 29 demanding that Chinese officials take the lead in obeying smoking regulations.

The notice, which appeared on the website of the State Council, reiterated that a smoking ban was in force in certain public places. It said that officials were prohibited from smoking in public, including in schools, hospitals, sports venues, and public vehicles. Officials were banned also from offering cigarettes to others at work and from buying cigarettes with public funds.

Mao Qun’an, spokesman for the NHFPC, said all health and family planning department staff would be prohibited from smoking in no-smoking areas, and some staff members would be appointed to prevent others from smoking.

Sales of tobacco products were banned in health and family planning institutions, said Mao, as were tobacco advertisements, promotions and sponsorships.