China’s film and broadcast watchdog has issued a circular ordering to reduce smoking scenes in films and TV dramas following complaints last month about the nation’s failure to honor the tobacco-control commitment of the World Health Organization (WHO).
The circular says frequent smoking scenes in films and TV dramas do not accord with China’s stance on tobacco control and will mislead the public, especially the young. It says tobacco brands or signs and smoking scenes with juveniles present should not be allowed to appear in films or TV dramas. Scenes which have to show smoking should “last as short as possible”.
The circular also urges censoring and broadcasting institutions to intensify supervision of films and TV dramas before their screening and “try their best to cut smoking scenes.”
(Source: China Radio International)
