The most requested voice for revised draft on advertising law: comprehensive tobacco advertising ban

The advertising law (draft) was reviewed in groups in The 12th Meeting of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress. Tobacco, medicine, and internet became the hottest words among committee members and deputies to the National People’s Congress participated in this meeting. “Tobacco” has attracted the biggest concern.

Speeches from 26 representatives related to tobacco advertising among 66 members who represented their opinions. Among 26 spokesmen, 19 supported complete tobacco advertising ban; 6 supported a wide range of no smoking; only 1 had other opinion.

“I would like to echo Mr. Wang’s opinion……” was regarded as prologue by most of meeting participants after Wang Long-de declaring his opinion about total advertising ban. (Wang Long-de, born in Henan province of China, member of Chinese academy engineering, former vice health minister, deputy to the National People’s Congress. He repeated requested anti-smoking bill)

Chen Zhu vice- chairman said: we have made significant development in revising advertising law but I suggest that the clause 18 should be changed into “complete ban tobacco advertising, promotion, and sponsorship.” He said that, about the problem on tobacco advertising, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress should present definite attitude and firm position, and positively maintain “safeguarding national people’s health” explicitly stipulated in Construction Frame. In the “regulation on tobacco control in public places (draft)” published by the state council, clause 25 explicitly pointed out “complete ban tobacco advertising, promotion, and sponsorship.” and thus the advertising law should correspond to the regulation as a epistatic law.