The National Development and Reform Commission recently issued a regulation on the administration of monopoly sale licenses of tobacco.

According to the new regulation, foreign-funded enterprises or individual industrial and commercial businesses cannot engage in the wholesaling or retailing of monopolized tobacco products, nor can they conduct their business in the form of a franchise, outlet or other re-investment pattern.

However, supermarkets can still rent counters to businesses who have special licenses to sell cigarettes.

(Source: People's Daily Online)