Shenzhen Launches Enforcement to Protect Minors From Tobacco Harm

To implement the newly revised "Law of the People's Republic of China on the Protection of Minors" regarding the protection of minors from tobacco harm (including electronic cigarettes), and to legally safeguard and maintain the physical health and legal rights of minors, the Shenzhen Market Supervision Administration, in conjunction with the municipal tobacco monopoly department, has organized a unified law enforcement action across the city to protect minors from tobacco harm.

On the morning of July 8, Hong Jun, a member of the Shenzhen Market Supervision Administration's Party Committee and director of the Market Inspection Bureau, served as the commander-in-chief to deploy the unified law enforcement action. Deputy commander-in-chief Li Chaoqi, deputy director of the Shenzhen Market Inspection Bureau, led the bureau's anti-gang office to participate in this unified action deployment.

In the morning, the Market Inspection Department of the Shenzhen Market Inspection Bureau and law enforcement officers from the Futian Bureau, according to the command, jointly inspected convenience stores selling tobacco (including electronic cigarettes) and alcohol near Gangxia Primary School. On-site inspections found that the No. 1 convenience store and Tianfu convenience store, located 17.3 meters and 32 meters away from Gangxia Primary School respectively, were selling tobacco and alcohol, suspected of violating the relevant provisions of the "Law on the Protection of Minors" and the "Shenzhen Special Economic Zone Smoking Control Regulations." Law enforcement officers immediately required the merchant to remove all tobacco and alcohol from the shelves and initiated an investigation.

This unified action, organized and deployed by the Shenzhen Market Inspection Bureau, involved simultaneous actions across eleven district bureaus in the city. On the day of the action, 56 leads were tracked and inspected, resulting in 25 cases being filed.

Next, the Shenzhen Market Inspection Bureau will continue to strictly investigate and deal with illegal sales of tobacco to minors, strengthen online monitoring, and increase the crackdown on illegal activities; continue to clear existing tobacco sales points around campuses and remove vending machines selling tobacco products.

To protect the healthy growth of minors, the Shenzhen Market Supervision Administration calls on all merchants to comply with legal requirements and fulfill their commitment not to sell electronic cigarettes to minors.