Zhejiang launches special campaign to protect minors from tobacco harm

To further protect minors from tobacco harm, the Zhejiang Provincial Tobacco Monopoly Bureau and the Zhejiang Provincial Market Supervision Administration have jointly formulated the "Special Action Plan for Protecting Minors from Tobacco Harm: 'Guarding Growth'" (hereinafter referred to as the "Plan"). The special action lasts for three months and is divided into three phases: publicity and mobilization, concentrated rectification, and summary improvement.

The "Plan" emphasizes the need to firmly implement the decisions and deployments of the Party Central Committee and the State Council, as well as the requirements of laws and regulations, to increase the crackdown on tobacco-related illegal activities. It focuses more on prevention, combining prevention and treatment, and comprehensive governance, ensuring that publicity and education are in place, strengthening legal publicity at sales points (including electronic cigarettes), and urging the comprehensive setting of warning signs; ensuring prevention and protection are in place, strictly implementing distance standards around primary and secondary schools and kindergartens (hereinafter referred to as "around campuses"), carrying out registration and inspection of sales points, and accelerating the cleanup of illegal sales points; ensuring supervision and law enforcement are in place, strictly investigating illegal sales of tobacco to minors, continuously strengthening online monitoring, and increasing the crackdown on illegal activities to effectively protect the healthy growth of minors.

The "Plan" specifies three main tasks. First, strictly implement the requirement that no sales points should be set up around campuses. Strictly enforce distance and measurement standards around campuses; clean up existing sales points around campuses. Second, strictly investigate illegal sales of tobacco to minors. Implement regulations on setting warning signs and verifying identification; effectively strengthen daily supervision of the tobacco market; and legally investigate illegal sales of tobacco to minors. Third, continuously strengthen the regulation of the electronic cigarette market. Implement strict supervision of electronic cigarette production and operation behaviors; continuously strengthen control over internet channels; and guide physical electronic cigarette stores to operate legally and规范化.

The "Plan" requires all units to strengthen organizational leadership, enhance comprehensive governance, and ensure effective publicity and guidance to ensure the special action achieves results.