Ban on tobacco firms' donations urged

The Chinese Association on Tobacco Control has suggested the Ministry of Civil Affairs ban charitable donations by tobacco companies in the coming Charity Law, the Beijing Morning Post reported.

Charitable donations have been the main form of sponsorships by tobacco companies, according to the data released by CATC.

From Jan 1 to April 30, 123 charitable donations were among 149 sponsorships by tobacco companies, according to information gathered from micro blogs and the Internet. The donations include those to schools, the poor and disaster victims.

The Ministry of Civil Affairs is urged by CATC to ban charitable donations from tobacco firms through legislation, and government sectors and social organizations are urged to stop receiving donations from tobacco companies.

In addition, tobacco brands do promotions in traditional media, such as billboards, papers, and magazines, and in new media, such as the Internet and micro blogs.

CATC has suggested revising the Advertisement Law and the Provisional Regulation on tobacco advertising, banning tobacco advertising in all forms of media, including new media.