The United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development covers 17 goals, the third of which is “good health and well-being”, namely: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being at all ages. (Click here for details)

Under this major goal, there are 13 targets, the tenth of which is “Strengthen the implementation of the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control in all countries, as appropriate.”

● Current Situation

On May 21, 2003, the World Health Assembly ratified the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, calling on all countries to carry out the widest possible international cooperation to control epidemic of tobacco. On November 10, 2003, China officially signed the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.

About the World

Global Tobacco Control in Sever Situation 

The spread of tobacco epidemic is a global problem with serious consequences for public health that calls for the widest possible international cooperation to deliver an effective, appropriate and comprehensive international response.

According to the WHO Report on the Global Tobacco Epidemic 2017, the coverage of global tobacco control policies continues to expand, with a total of 4.7 billion people (nearly two-thirds of the world's population) in 121 countries affected by tobacco control policies. However, 2.7 billion people in 74 countries are still not covered by tobacco control policy. In addition, although tobacco consumption in some countries and regions has declined, the number of global smokers is still increasing.

The WHO Global Report on Trends in Prevalence of Tobacco Use 2000-2025 indicates that smoking is a main factor leading to cardiovascular diseases, such as heart disease and stroke. Although the global tobacco consumption rate has dropped from 27 percent in 2000 to 20 percent in 2016, there are still more than 7 million deaths related to tobacco use every year, of which about 3 million deaths of cardiovascular disease.

Text and photo source: WHO website  

About China

Cadres Being Major Force for Tobacco Control

China is a big country of tobacco production and consumption. The Chinese government has paid more and more attention to tobacco control, which is also a major concern of international community. In 2014, the general office of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council issued the Notice on Cadres to Take the Lead in Prohibiting Smoking in Public, requiring that cadres should not smoke in public. It has become an important driving force in the implementation process of tobacco control in China.

Photo source: sohu.com.cn

There are a large number of smokers and second-hand smokers in China. The number of adult smokers exceeds 300 million. The male smoking rate is 52.9%, ranking among the top of the world. The teenager smokers are not optimistic, with about 15 million young smokers aged between 13 to 18, and more than 40 million teenagers trying to smoke. The teenager smoking rate is 11.5%. Smoking in public and workplaces are serious. About 740 million non-smokers have been exposed to second-hand smoke environments, with an exposure rate of 72.4%. Smoking and second-hand smoke exposure lead to a large number of cancer, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. Each year, more than 1 million people die of smoking related diseases, and medical expenses caused by smoking keeps increasing.

Text source:  tobacco.gov.cn

●  Cases

About the World

Brazil Filed Lawsuit against Tobacco Company

The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC), calling for Governments to take the necessary measures to deal with civil liability, including compensation, for the purpose of tobacco control.

Photo source: internet

On May 21, 2019， the Office of the Attorney-General of Brazil filed a lawsuit at the Federal Court of Rio Grande do Sul against the largest tobacco corporations in Brazil and their parent companies abroad, to seek recovery of health care costs related to the treatment of tobacco-induced diseases. The claim covers costs generated in the Brazilian health care system for the treatment of patients suffering from 26 diseases linked to the consumption of tobacco products and exposure to tobacco smoke, and foresees proportional compensation for future spending, and collective moral damages, as a consequence of the tobacco public health burden. In its related press release, the Office of the Attorney-General of Brazil pointed out that according to studies carried out in the country, the public health spending triggered by tobacco consumption amounts to tens of billions of Reais annually. The Secretariat of the WHO FCTC and WHO applaud the Brazilian government’s action to seek compensation from multinational tobacco companies for the social and economic costs of suffering and healthcare resulting from tobacco-related disease.

Text source: WHO website

About China

Shenzhen Strictly Controlling Tobacco Use 

Photo source:southcn.com

Since the Regulations on Smoking Control in Shenzhen Special Economic Zone was implemented six years ago, the smoke-free environment in Shenzhen has been improved significantly, with steady drop of smoking rate. There has been significant decrease of smoking in public. By the end of 2018, there were nearly 10,000 tobacco control volunteers, of which more than 4,000 were trained to be inspectors. In 2018, the Shenzhen government sent out around 8,000 staff to carry out nearly 400 activities for tobacco control and inspection on more than 10,000 places where smoking is prohibited. In October 2019, Shenzhen renewed its tobacco regulations to include electronic in the tobacco control list, which was highly praised by the WHO. Shenzhen initiated the use of “electronic eyes” in Maluan Subdistrict, Pingshan District to control smoking in public area for 24 hours a day, further upgrading tobacco control through high technology.

Text source: thepaper.cn

●  Background

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Initiated by the United Nations

On January 1, 2016, the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including 169 targets, of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development — adopted by world leaders in September 2015 at an historic UN Summit — officially came into force. Countries will mobilize efforts to end all forms of poverty, fight inequalities and tackle climate change, while ensuring that no one is left behind.