China

Project and Country Background

China has a population of 1.44 billion people; 26.4 percent of the adult population and 3.9 percent of the youth population smoke cigarettes.1 An estimated 2,197,652 people in China die each year from diseases caused by smoking.2

TPackSS worked with in-country collaborators to purchase cigarettes in seven major cities across China. Within each city, packs were collected from a sample of 12 economically and socially diverse neighborhoods. In 2013 and 2017, data collectors purchased one of every unique cigarette pack available from vendors selected in each neighborhood in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Kunming and Chengdu. From November 12 to December 6, 2013, data collectors purchased 453 unique cigarette packs. Then from February 6 to February 22, 2017, data collectors visited the same five cities and purchased 738 unique cigarette packs. In 2023, data collectors purchased one of every unique cigarette and e-cigarette pack available from vendors selected in each neighborhood in Beijing, Shanghai, Chongqing, Guangzhou, Kunming and Shenzhen. Data collectors visited four popular types of cigarette vendors according to Euromonitor data (independent small grocer, tobacco specialty, supermarket, hypermarket) and vape stores (including brand store and non-brand name store) for purchase. For e-cigarette pack collection, data collectors visited 12 vape stores per city and made a purchase from at least one non-brand stores in each city.3 From April 18 to May 27, 2023, data collectors visited these cities and purchased 487 unique cigarette packs and 143 unique e-cigarette packs.

The tobacco packaging and labeling requirements in effect at the time of data collection were used to assess each tobacco pack’s compliance with the requirements.

Suggested Citation for Information on this Page: Tobacco Pack Surveillance System (TPackSS). China: Project and Country Background. Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. http://globaltobaccocontrol.org/tpackss/country/china [Insert Last Updated Date].

Browse packs from China

Highlights of Packaging and Labeling Requirements by Data Collection Year

Data collection dates Type of warning Warning label size and layout Number of warnings to be displayed Rotation Rules for misleading descriptors Other warning label requirements considered during coding

Nov. 12 to Dec. 6, 2013

[453 unique packs collected]

Text

30% of front, 30% of back

2

None

Some restrictions

There must be contrast between the color of the warning text and background. Warning text: must appear in Chinese on the front and back of the pack; placed on the bottom part of the pack or opposite of the pack opening; at least 4 mm in height.

Feb. 6 to Feb. 22, 2017 

[738 unique packs collected]

Text

35% of front, 35% of back

3

None

Some restrictions

Warning in lower or right side portion of the front and back of pack. Warning in a single color background and contrasting text. Warning text: must appear in Chinese on the front and back of the pack; at least 4.5 mm in height.

April 18 to May 27, 2023 

[487 unique cigarette packs collected]

Text

35% of front, 35% of back

3

Required

Some restrictions

Warning text must appear in Chinese on the front and back of the pack and should be ≥ 4.5mm in height.

April 18 to May 27, 2023 

[143 unique e-cigarette packs collected] 

Text

35% of front, 35% of back

3

Required

Some restrictions

Warning text must appear in Chinese on the front and back of the pack and should be ≥ 4.5mm in height.

General tobacco packaging and labeling requirements in China are regulated by the Tobacco Monopoly Law (1991) and its implementing regulations (1997). More specific tobacco packaging and labeling requirements were issued by the State Tobacco Monopoly Administration and the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine in 2007 in the Rules on Cigarette Package Labeling in the Territories of the People’s Republic of China. In 2008, the State Tobacco Monopoly Administration issued a Notice on Interpretation of Relevant Articles in the Rules on Cigarette Package Labeling in the Territories of People’s Republic of China and on Review and Approval Requirements. The notice set standards for the structure of packaging labels as well as prohibited misleading descriptors.4 In 2022, the State Tobacco Monopoly Administration issued the Rules on E-cigarette Package Labeling.5

  1. WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, Country profile China. (2021). Retrieved July 24, 2023

    from https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/tobacco-chn-2021-country-profile.
  2. Global Burden of Disease Study 2017 (GBD 2017) Results by Location, Cause, and Risk Factor. Retrieved November 29, 2018

    from http://ihmeuw.org/4nob.
  3. Euromonitor International. Tobacco in China. [restricted access]. Retrieved April 14, 2022

    from https://www.portal.euromonitor.com/.
  4. Tobacco Control Laws Country Details for China: Packaging and Labeling. (2017). Retrieved October 25, 2018

    from http://www.tobaccocontrollaws.org/legislation/country/china/pl-health-warnings.
  5. Regulations on Electronic Cigarette Warning Labeling. Retrieved July 24, 2023

    from https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2022/TBT/CHN/22_3011_00_x.pdf.