Xia Wan1, Shaojun Ma, Janet Hoek, Jie Yang, Lanyan Wu, Jiushun Zhou, Gonghuan Yang. 1. Department of Epidemiology and Statistics, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine of Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To critically review the structure of tobacco control policy making in China, examine conflicts of interest within this structure, and consider how these affected the introduction of on-pack warnings. METHODS: Government policy documents and warning labels were obtained and critically reviewed. RESULTS: Few differences exist between the on-pack warnings formerly used in China and those introduced ostensibly to meet Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) obligations. Comparison with tobacco manufactured for export or overseas consumption shows the new Chinese domestic on-pack warnings are demonstrably inferior to those required internationally. The inherent conflict of interest in the Chinese tobacco control agency structure, which must meet commercial and public health objectives, undermined the introduction of new health warnings. CONCLUSIONS: To promote more effective tobacco control policies, the conflict of interest inhibiting the public health function of the State Tobacco Monopoly Administration (STMA) must be removed. Specifically, the public health function must be separated from oversight of commercial production, and packaging must be redesigned with pictorial warnings and messages compliant with Article 11 of the FCTC.
OBJECTIVE: To critically review the structure of tobacco control policy making in China, examine conflicts of interest within this structure, and consider how these affected the introduction of on-pack warnings. METHODS: Government policy documents and warning labels were obtained and critically reviewed. RESULTS: Few differences exist between the on-pack warnings formerly used in China and those introduced ostensibly to meet Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) obligations. Comparison with tobacco manufactured for export or overseas consumption shows the new Chinese domestic on-pack warnings are demonstrably inferior to those required internationally. The inherent conflict of interest in the Chinese tobacco control agency structure, which must meet commercial and public health objectives, undermined the introduction of new health warnings. CONCLUSIONS: To promote more effective tobacco control policies, the conflict of interest inhibiting the public health function of the State Tobacco Monopoly Administration (STMA) must be removed. Specifically, the public health function must be separated from oversight of commercial production, and packaging must be redesigned with pictorial warnings and messages compliant with Article 11 of the FCTC.
Authors: Steve Shaowei Xu; Shannon Gravely; Gang Meng; Tara Elton-Marshall; Richard J O'Connor; Anne C K Quah; Guoze Feng; Yuan Jiang; Grace J Hu; Geoffrey T Fong Journal: Tob Control Date: 2018-08-29 Impact factor: 7.552
Authors: Qing Li; Thomas F Babor; Donald Zeigler; Ziming Xuan; Donald Morisky; Melbourne F Hovell; Toben F Nelson; Weixing Shen; Bing Li Journal: Addiction Date: 2015-01 Impact factor: 6.526
Authors: Assem M Khamis; Maram B Hakoum; Lama Bou-Karroum; Joseph R Habib; Ahmed Ali; Gordon Guyatt; Fadi El-Jardali; Elie A Akl Journal: Health Res Policy Syst Date: 2017-09-19