Laws are only way to stop smoking, say CDC officials

Interference from tobacco industry seen as hindrance

BEIJING - Voluntary smoking controls have been ineffective in China and laws and regulations are the only effective way to stop people lighting up, according to a report released in Beijing on Thursday.

The 2011 China Tobacco Control Report was released by the tobacco control office under the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC), just ahead of the 24th World No Tobacco Day on May 31.