Shanghai targets outdoor smoking

Nine departments in Shanghai have jointly issued a notice aimed at reducing secondhand smoke exposure outdoors and promoting a smoke-free, healthy environment, the Shanghai Municipal Health Promotion Center announced on Wednesday.

The notice outlines precise requirements for individuals and managers at eight types of outdoor venues, including queuing and waiting areas. It builds on a previous directive issued in September, which required smokers to refrain from smoking while walking and to use designated smoking areas.

The initiative, led by departments including the Social Work Department of the CPC Shanghai Municipal Committee and the Shanghai Municipal Health Commission, marks the first provincial-level, multi-departmental effort on the Chinese mainland to address outdoor secondhand smoke exposure and minimize passive smoking.