China bans new cigarette factories

By China correspondent John Taylor

China has announced a ban on the building of new cigarette factories as part of efforts to curb smoking.

China is the world's largest tobacco market, with annual sales peaking more than a trillion cigarettes.

More than a third of China's population are smokers and tobacco is believed to contribute to more than a million deaths a year.

The Government has committed itself to curbing smoking in China and state media is reporting a new initiative.

An official has announced a ban on the building of new cigarette factories and the restructuring of the state-controlled tobacco industry.

Smoking though remains incredibly popular and accepted and cigarettes are a major source of taxation revenue.