Tobacco price adjustment still under study

Beijing (CNS) -- Whether tobacco prices and taxes will be raised in China is still under research and discussion, Miao Wei, minister of industry and information technology and deputy to the NPC, told CNS on Sunday.

Official statistics show China has 350 million smokers, revealed Miao, and the key to solving the health hazard lies in both reducing the number of smokers and their doses of toxic substances.

Responding to the heated debate during this year's "two sessions," Miao pointed out that tobacco prices and taxes have been maintaining at relatively high levels, thus more practical tests and input from the public are critical to making adjustments feasible.

Tobacco-related levies include turnover, income, and consumption taxes, increasing any or all of which demands further study.

It has become a custom in China's domestic tabacco industry to place warning labels on cigarette packages such as "smoking is harmful to health" at an eye-catching position. The ministry is also formulating an official regulation in this regard.

China joined the WTO's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control in 2006 and established a special team led by Minister Miao in 2007 to fulfill the obligations. The WHO rated China above average among all countries in executing its duties.