Authorities step up anti-smoking action
THE smoking rate in public venues in the city last year was 12.8 percent, 1.5 percent points lower than 2019, Shanghai health authorities announced yesterday, the 11th anniversary of the city’s implementation of smoking control regulations in public places.
At present, smoking is prohibited on all public transportation and in public indoor spaces and workplaces.
In 2020, health officials monitored close to 400,000 venues, imposing fines on 683 facilities and 957 individuals totaling 1,680,721 yuan (US$260,174).
To enhance smoking control in public places, authorities have stepped up inspections and conducted more frequent monitoring in places with a history of serious violations.
Entertainment venues still have high smoking rates, while public transportation, places with minors and manufacturing sites have seen an increase in smoking rates. Moreover, there are fewer people enforcing smoking bans in public venues.
About 21.3 percent of staff working in places banning smoking said they’ve suffered passive smoking in the past seven days last year, compared with 12.9 percent in 2019.
Health authorities found there are fewer no-smoking signs and promotional materials in public transit, eateries, entertainment venues and manufacturing sites than in other public venues.
The Shanghai Health Enhancement Association said that it will increase smokingcontrol education.
THE Yangtze River conservation law took effect yesterday amid China’s intensified efforts to protect its mother river.
With 96 provisions in nine chapters, it is the country’s first legislation on a specific river basin.
The new law strengthens oversight as well as the prevention and control of water pollution in the Yangtze River basin.
For the economic and social development of the Yangtze River basin, efforts shall be made to promote wellcoordinated environmental conservation and avoid excessive development, while ecology shall be prioritized, according to the law.
Stretching over 6,300 kilometers, the Yangtze boasts rich biodiversity and mineral and water resources in its basin. But over-fishing and pollution have long threatened its aquatic life and depleted its fish stocks.
Fishing for productive purposes is banned in the aquatic life conservation areas the law stipulates, adding that within the time limit prescribed productive fishing is banned in key Yangtze waters including its main river, major tributaries and lakes, and designated estuary areas.