Shanghai to tighten smoking control

A man smokes a cigarette near a no-smoking sign in Huai'an, Jiangsu province, on Nov 25, 2014. [Photo/IC]

SHANGHAI - Shanghai will implement stricter tobacco control rules, banning smoking in all indoor public places, workplaces and public transport from March 2017.

The Standing Committee of the Shanghai People's Congress, the local legislature, on Friday passed an amendment to existing smoking control regulations that took effect six years ago.

While the existing version allows designated areas for smokers in indoor areas of hotels, restaurants, entertainment venues, as well as airports, train and port stations, the amendment closes such loopholes.

In addition, smoking will be prohibited in outdoors at certain public venues visited by children, including schools, after-school educational institutions and children's hospitals. Outdoor auditoriums in stadiums are also subject to the ban.

China has 316 million smokers, with another 740 million exposed to second-hand smoke. In 2015, about 733,000 Chinese were diagnosed with smoking-related lung cancer.

At least 16 Chinese cities, including Beijing, have passed their own tobacco control rules.