As the world’s largest tobacco producer and consumer, China says it is considering increasing its tobacco taxes.
 
According to the country’s official news agency Xinhua, the government’s National Health and Family Planning Commission is looking to work with other agencies to lobby for a tobacco tax hike as a new health measure. The Commission says the current programme of fiscal and tax reform may provide an opportunity to raise taxes, following the last increase in 2009.
 
Current estimates count the number of Chinese smokers in excess of 300m, while calls for greater regulation have been growing. Xinhua adds that the Legislative Affairs Office of the State Council has already drafted regulations to ban some forms of tobacco advertising, sponsorship and promotion.