On the occasion of the arrival of the 32nd World No Tobacco Day (May 31, 2019) and the 69th International Children's Day (June 1st, 2019), China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation (CBCGDF) v. Yongwang Mengle City (Sanhe) Business Management Co., Ltd. and other units on indoor tobacco control environmental pubic interest litigation (EPIL) was formally accepted by the Baoding Intermediate People's Court in Hebei Province, and Baoding Intermediate People’s Court accepted the CBCGDF evidence preservation application, which was completed on May 16 (ruling).

This case is China's first EPIL case on public places indoor tobacco control. It is also the first case in which environmental protection and tobacco control appeals are simultaneously reflected in public interest litigation.

Earlier, CBCGDF received feedback from volunteers and confirmed by investigation that the defendant Yongwang Mengle City (Sanhe) Business Management Co., Ltd. built the maternal and child room (kids’ activity room, restroom, toilet) and smoking room together, and set the indicator sign of the mother and children room and the indicator sign of the smoking room together, which seriously violates the physical and mental health of the minors. It is understood that the defendant manages 21 similar children’s theme shopping malls in China.

The total ban on smoking in public places is a requirement of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. And a total ban on smoking means not smoking in public places, nor to set up any form of smoking rooms or smoking areas in public places.

(Photo credit: CBCGDF)

Original Chinese article:

http://www.cbcgdf.org/NewsShow/4857/8700.html

By / Niu Jingmei