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Taiwan health department not endorsing setup of tobacco plant  

In a legislative session on Thursday morning, Health Minister Yeh Ching-chuan (葉金川) said the Department of Health (DOH) would not endorse the setup of giant tobacco manufacturing plant, saying that the act was against the anti-smoking spirit promoted by the Department.

In the question-and-answer session held by the Legislative Social Welfare and Environmental Hygiene Committee, Yeh faced inquiries of lawmakers on the Imperial Tobacco Group’s plan to install a manufacturing plant in Miaoli County, and on fake doctors employed by local hospitals.

Britain-based Imperial Tobacco Group, one of top four tobacco companies in the world, set up a major tobacco manufacturing factory in Chunan Town, Miaoli County in central Taiwan. The producer of Davidoff cigarette brand started production in Miaoli plant last year, drawing criticism from anti-smoking groups that it harms Taiwan’s image amid the fight against the hazardous tobacco.

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