WHO says China’s proposed tobacco advertising restrictions not enough

The World Health Organization said on Friday that China needed a comprehensive ban on tobacco advertising in order to reduce smoking prevalence in the country, according to a Xinhua News Agency story.

What was being planned was not enough.

WHO’s representative in China, Bernhard Schwartlander, made these comments in a statement following a submission by the WHO to the Legislative Affairs Office of the State Council, China’s Cabinet.

The office had invited comments from the public on proposed changes to China’s advertising law.

Schwartlander welcomed China’s move to tighten restrictions on tobacco advertising. “Banning all forms of tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship is one of the most cost-effective tobacco control measures any government can take,” he said. “Cutting demand for tobacco products has a direct and measurable impact on public health.”

Currently, there are restrictions on tobacco advertising in China, but, while the proposed changes to the advertising law would strengthen those restrictions, advertising would still be allowed in some circumstances.

“This means the proposed amendments do not meet the requirements of the WHO FCTC [Framework Convention on Tobacco Control],” Schwartlander commented.