Hefei Tobacco Monopoly Administration Sees Good Results in First Quarter

Source from:  tobacco.gov.cn 04/17/2008

STMA issues notice on implementation of FCTC, rules for cigarette packaging marks The State Tobacco Monopoly Administration (STMA) - the regulator of China's tobacco industry - has recently issued the Notice on the Interpretation of the Relevant Provisions of the Rules for Cigarette Packaging Marks within the Territories of the People's Republic of China and on Requirements for Review and Approval of Cigarette Packaging Marks (the Rules), to facilitate practical application of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) and the Rules. The Notice specifically interprets the provisions of the Rules concerning regulation of the wording of warning sings, background color of warning signs, computation of the size of the area reserved for warning signs, definition of the separation line of the area reserved for warning signs, location of the area reserved for warning signs and color of words of warning signs on cigarette packaging as well as the scope of application, the time of entry into force of the Rules, etc. The Notice emphasizes that in an effort to ensure strict implementation of the requirements of the Rules, the STMA will organize taskforces to review all the new designs of cigarette packaging in China in two batches in a concentrated way. On November 7, 2007, the STMA and the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine jointly issued the Circular on the Distribution of the Rules for Cigarette Packaging Marks within the Territories of the People's Republic of China and on Requirements for Review and Approval of Cigarette Packaging Marks, which requires all tobacco manufacturing enterprises in China's tobacco industry to implement of the Rules as of January 1, 2009. Presently, all tobacco manufacturing enterprises in China are renewing their cigarette packaging in line with the relevant requirements of the Rules. Enditem