China’s first local standards on outdoor smoking areas enacted in Shanghai

China's first local standards on the setup and management of outdoor smoking areas was enacted in Shanghai on Sunday to regulate outdoor smoking behaviors in the municipality.  

According to Shanghai Municipal Health Commission, Shanghai will set up 300 outdoor smoking demonstration sites by the end of 2024 in accordance with the municipality's requirements, chinanews.com reported on Sunday. 

Based on this, Shanghai will further strengthen the advocacy of smoking only at designated areas and avoiding walking while smoking. In addition, the city will strictly enforce a thorough indoor smoking ban and strengthen regulatory enforcement. 

With the summary of Shanghai's long-standing experience in tobacco control management and references of relevant international practices, the standards specify the requirements for the location, facilities, signage and health tips for outdoor smoking areas, and clarifies the management requirements for the daily patrol and inspection as well as maintenance of these areas, according to chinanews.com. 

The implementation of the standard will help guide and regulate outdoor smoking, reduce health risks of outdoor secondhand smoke and protect the public's health. This is a significant step to further improving the effectiveness of smoke-free environment, promoting refined management on urban tobacco control. 

Currently, there are no national standards or regulations on the setup and management of outdoor smoking areas. 

Therefore, according to the Shanghai Municipal Health Commission, Shanghai has innovatively explored the requirements to provide professional guidance and technical support for the reasonable and standardized setting up and management of outdoor smoking areas. 

Relevant departments also set up health tips about the hazards of tobacco and information on services for giving up smoking at the smoking areas, providing smokers with convenient channels to quit smoking.