China is stepping up efforts to produce low-tar cigarettes for the sake of consumers' health, as the country's tobacco industry regulator has ordered that cigarettes manufactured after July 1, 2004, and containing over 15 milligrams of tar each cannot be sold on the domestic market.

"Those cigarettes that fail to meet the standards will be sealed up and destroyed," said the State Tobacco Monopoly Administration, adding that the move was adopted to better satisfy the needs of the market and consumers, to lower the tar content in cigarettes further, and to reduce the harm brought by cigarettes.

However, the administration noted, tobacco producers can still sell cigarettes with over 15 milligrams of tar if they were manufactured before July 1.

The administration requires all local tobacco quality supervision authorities to enhance checks on cigarettes manufactured after July 1.

One cigarette contains 2,000 different chemicals, including carbon monoxide; nicotine, which is addicting; and tar, which can cause cancer.

China is the world's biggest tobacco producer and consumer, with approximately 300 million smokers.

Every year, nearly one million Chinese die of diseases related to tobacco smoking.

In November last year, China signed the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), promising to lower the tar content in cigarettes to 12 milligrams.

In fact, the tobacco administration first began placing limitations on tar content four years ago. By 2003, the average tar content per cigarette was 14.3 milligrams, down from 27 milligrams in 1983.

(Xinhua News Agency June 30, 2004)