Combating illicit tobacco trade: preparing the ground for future International Protocol to WHO tobacco control convention

Representatives of over 30 countries, the European Commission, international organisations and NGOs met in Montevideo, Uruguay, on 5 and 6 December, in a regional conference about illicit trade in tobacco products to prepare the ground for negotiations in early 2008 on a Protocol to the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.

The Protocol would deal specifically with combating illicit trade in tobacco and tobacco products. Alongside DG Health and Consumer Protection, OLAF contributed by sharing its experience of tackling the smuggling and counterfeiting of tobacco products, including making several presentations and moderating some sessions of the conference. The conference was organised by the Government of Uruguay, with the support of the World Health Organization, and was given very strong support by the President of Uruguay and the Minister of Health who gave the closing address.