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Tobacco Program Left Aside in China's Science Reward Updated: 2012-05-07 10:34:17 A Chinese tobacco research program has been left aside in anapplication for a top science award in the country, followingextensive controversy over its studies in manufacturing low-tar,less-harm cigarettes. China Tobacco (China National Tobacco Corporation), which isaffiliated to the State Tobacco Monopoly, had applied to have itsresearch into supposedly less harmful cigarettes included on a listof initiatives up for the 2012 National Award for Science andTechnology. The application was open to appeals from March 23 to May 2. During the past 40 days, however, Chinese health officials,scientists, non-governmental organizations, general public and theWorld Health Organization representative in China have voicedstrong opposition to the application. Health experts say China Tobacco's research -- which focuses on"Chinese-style" cigarettes -- misleads the public by claiming thatthe adding of Chinese herbs into cigarettes reduces their harm. At least 33 letters of objection have been sent to the Ministryof Science and Technology, the organizer of the science reward. The State Tobacco Monopoly then submitted an application to theministry for quitting the reward application under the pressure. Officials with the State Tobacco Monopoly have declined tocomment, while a statement issued by the Ministry of Science andTechnology on Friday only said the research program has met withopposition and the situation is "very complicated." Meanwhile, officials with the Ministry of Health have toldreporters that "the current result was the fruit of the jointefforts of everybody." China has more than 300 million smokers, about 1.2 millionpeople die from tobacco-related diseases every year in the country,and another 740 million are exposed to second-hand smoke, healthexperts say. They add that China faces a particularly tough battle toprevent the interference in anti-smoking work of China Tobacco,with its lucrative tax contributions and status as a governmentagency. Tobacco research projects have been honored seven times in theannual National Award for Science and Technology over the pastdecade, the Beijing News has reported. The list of candidates for the 2012 award will be finalizedlate this year, and the winner announced in early 2013, after beingjudged by a panel of experts, according to rules of the Ministry ofScience and Technology. Last month, Fu Wei, a spokeswoman forthe Ministry of Health, told a press conference that therecognition of tobacco research would violate the spirit of theaward, under which it is clearly stated that research consideredshould not be against the protection of public health. "We oppose considering the research into so-called 'low-harm'cigarettes for the national science award," she said. The attitude of the Ministry of Health is in line with the WHOFramework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), which makes a standagainst all forms of promotion aimed at encouraging tobacco use, Fuadded. China signed to the FCTC in 2003 and it was enacted in 2006. Yang Gonghuan, former deputy director of the tobacco controloffice at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention,said the Ministry of Science and Technology should carry out astrict supervision over the applications for the science reward. "The ministry should stipulate clearly that such a researchprogram (as the 'Chinese-style' cigarettes) should not be includedin the application list for the science reward," she said.(Xinhua). The e-commerce company in China offers quality products such as Plastic Agglomerator Manufacturer , Infrared Dryers Manufacturer, and more. For more , please visit Waste Plastic Recycling Machine today!
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