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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 Ministry ofScience 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 to comment,while a statement issued by the Ministry of Science and Technologyon Friday only said the research program has met with oppositionand 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 million peopledie from tobacco-related diseases every year in the country, andanother 740 million are exposed to second-hand smoke, healthexperts say. They add that China faces a particularly tough battle to preventthe interference in anti-smoking work of China Tobacco, with itslucrative tax contributions and status as a government agency. 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 finalized latethis 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 control officeat the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said theMinistry of Science and Technology should carry out a strictsupervision over the applications for the science reward. "The ministry should stipulate clearly that such a research program(as the 'Chinese-style' cigarettes) should not be included in theapplication list for the science reward," she said. I am an expert from polyester-staple-fiber.com, while we provides the quality product, such as Non Woven Fibers , China High Tenacity Fiber, Polyester Staple Fiber,and more.
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