China, the world's largest consumer and producer of tobacco, has ratified an international treaty aimed at curbing tobacco-related diseases and deaths. The World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) was by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, Chinese state media reported.
Dr Shigeru Omi, WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific, welcomed the announcement and congratulated China on what he called a landmark decision. "This is perhaps the clearest indication yet that the world is increasingly committed to addressing the global tobacco epidemic," he said.
The Chinese Government estimates that there are 350 million smokers in the country. About 60% of Chinese men and 3% of women smoke. It also appears that the number of children and young female smokers may be increasing significantly.
Tobacco kills 1.2 million Chinese each year. In the mid-1990s, tobacco use cost the Government US$ 6.5 billion annually in health-care costs alone.
More than 75 countries have now ratified the Convention, including other major tobacco-manufacturing countries such as India and Japan. The Convention became international law in February 2005, after the required ratification by 40 countries.
China must now register its ratification with the United Nations in New York before ratification is officially recognized. Ninety days after the ratification is accepted by the United Nations, the Convention becomes binding
international law for China.
Among its provisions, the treaty requires China to ban tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship on radio, television, print media and the Internet within five years. It also prohibits tobacco-company sponsorship of international events and activities. Chinese state media reported that China is to ban all tobacco-vending machines, including in self-administered Hong Kong and Macao.
