Zhejiang Launches 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 recently formulated the "Special Action Plan for Protecting Minors from Tobacco Harm: 'Guarding Growth'" (hereinafter referred to as the "Plan"). The special action will last 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. It calls for increased efforts to investigate and deal with tobacco-related illegal activities, with a greater focus on prevention, combined treatment, and comprehensive governance. This includes ensuring effective publicity and education, strengthening legal publicity at tobacco sales points (including e-cigarettes), and urging the comprehensive installation of warning signs; ensuring adequate preventive protection by strictly enforcing distance standards around primary and secondary schools and kindergartens (hereinafter referred to as "school surroundings"), implementing registration and investigation of tobacco sales points, and accelerating the cleanup of illegal sales points; and ensuring effective supervision and investigation by strictly addressing illegal sales of tobacco to minors, continuously enhancing online monitoring, and increasing the crackdown on illegal activities to effectively protect the healthy growth of minors.

The "Plan" outlines three main tasks. First, it requires strict enforcement of the prohibition on setting up sales points around schools. This includes adhering to distance standards and measurement standards around school surroundings and cleaning up existing tobacco sales points. Second, it mandates strict investigation of illegal sales of tobacco to minors, including the establishment of warning signs and verification of identification documents; effectively strengthening daily supervision of the tobacco market; and legally addressing illegal sales of tobacco to minors. Third, it calls for continuous strengthening of supervision over the e-cigarette market, with comprehensive and strict regulation of e-cigarette production and operation behaviors; ongoing enhancement of control over internet channels; and guiding physical e-cigarette stores to operate legally and in compliance with regulations.

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.