A flower and bird market in Minhang District was issued a fine of 30,000 yuan (US$4,286) for violating Shanghai’s smoking-control regulations, the first time a maximum fine has been issued since the regulations took effect in 2017, local health authorities said.

The Minhang health supervision agency began investigating the Hongqiao Flower and Bird Market’s underground stores in April after a local television station exposed smoking-control management violations.

The market had no “No Smoking” signs in the market’s underground public area, and there were cigarette butts spotted on the ground. Officials even found ashtrays with cigarette butts in the market’s management areas.

“Having cigarette butts in public areas means the property-management staff didn’t prevent smoking, and the absence of 'No Smoking' signs and prevalence of ashtrays in management areas means the market authority failed to follow the city’s smoking-control regulations,” said Liu Minjiof the Minhang Health Supervision Agency. “The regulation bans smoking in all indoor public spaces, indoor working spaces and public transportation, and requires the property authority to shoulder the responsibility for smoking control.”

Liu said the maximum fine of 30,000 yuan was levied because the market was fined 2,500 yuan last year for not following smoking-control regulations related to ashtrays in public areas.

“It is a repeated violation this time,” Liu said. “According to the regulations, we can impose a fine of between 20,000 and 30,000 yuan. Considering the negative social influence, we decided to issue the maximum punishment.”

Officials said the market started complying after the most recent ticket was issued. It has installed smoking-ban signs in public places and told staff and customers to smoke only in designated smoking areas.

“The market informed all its 1,300 store runners to strictly follow the smoking-control regulations and instructed security to monitor the market,” Liu said. “Store runners are being cooperative and smoking only in the three designated smoking areas.”

According to the Minhang government, the district checked more than 16,000 public venues in the first half of 2020, fining 33 of them as well as 13 individuals.

More public education about the adverse health effects of smoking is in the offing, officials said.

Since adopting smoking-control regulations, the smoking rate of local adults has dropped from 26.85 percent in 2010 to 19.7 percent in 2019. Shanghai is the first Chinese provincial region with a smoking rate lower than 20 percent. However, violations persist in restaurants, entertainment venues and office buildings. More targeted campaigns are under consideration.

The fine for violating the regulations ranges from 2,000 to 30,000 yuan for businesses and 50 to 200 yuan for individuals.