China’s delayed ban to start May 1

China’s delayed ban on smoking in all indoor public venues will start on May 1, state media said yesterday, as the nation that is home to one in five of the world’s smoking deaths tries to cut back. Beijing had committed to introducing the ban by...

China’s delayed ban on smoking in all indoor public venues will start on May 1, state media said yesterday, as the nation that is home to one in five of the world’s smoking deaths tries to cut back.

Beijing had committed to introducing the ban by January 9 when it signed the World Trade Organisation (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control five years ago.

China missed the January deadline due to a lack of state-level legislation, ineffective administration, low-priced cigarettes and deep-rooted tobacco culture.

A similar ban introduced in Shanghai before last year’s World Expo has proved to be largely ineffective, with smokers continuing to light up openly in front of “no smoking” signs in hotels, restaurants and conference halls.

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