Tobacco Control Policies: China’s Progress, Challenges and Path Forward

The recent Global Burden of Disease Study identifies smoking as a critical global health risk, attributing approximately 5.7% of the world’s disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) lost to this habit.1 This figure places smoking third among all risk factors, trailing only particulate matter pollution and high blood pressure. The global implementation of tobacco control measures has led to a notable reduction in smoking-associated DALYs, which have decreased by 20.7% since 2000.1 This decline underscores the effectiveness and critical importance of ongoing tobacco control policies in enhancing public health. As one of the world’s most populous countries with a substantial smoking population, understanding China’s progress, challenges, and future path in tobacco control is crucial for informing global efforts and achieving further reductions in tobacco-related morbidity and mortality worldwide. In 2003, in response to the global tobacco epidemic, the World Health Organization (WHO) member states ratified the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), which now includes 182 signatory countries. To support the effective implementation of the FCTC, the WHO introduced the MPOWER strategy in 2007.2 This strategy comprises six targeted actions: monitoring tobacco use and prevention policies; protecting people from tobacco smoke; offering help to quit tobacco use; warning about the dangers of tobacco; enforcing bans on tobacco advertising, promotion, and sponsorship; and raising taxes on tobacco. Despite these efforts, tobacco usage remained at 22.3% of the global population in 2020, indicating that, although there has been a notable decline in tobacco consumption, substantial challenges persist. Continuous enhancement and enforcement of regulations and international treaties are essential to further reduce tobacco prevalence globally.