Health body seeks higher tobacco prices in China

China is considering raising tobacco taxes and cigarette prices to reduce the number of smokers in the country, according to a Xinhua News Agency story.

Yao Hongwen, of the National Health and Family Planning Commission, was said to have told a press conference yesterday that the commission would work together with other agencies to push hard for a tax increase.

“China is now on the course of fiscal and tax reform, which provides us with a rare chance to take advantage to raise tobacco taxes and prices for tobacco control,” said Yao.

The Chinese government raised tobacco taxes in 2009, but a report published by the World Health Organization in May said the increase had had no impact on tobacco consumption because it had not been passed on to the consumer.

The report said tobacco was very cheap in China and had become even more affordable in recent times as average incomes had risen along with China’s rapid economic growth and development.