Tobacco: World Health Organisation adopts Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, May 2003

A landmark international anti-tobacco treaty was adopted unanimously by ministers at the World Health Organisation's Annual Assembly in Geneva on 21 May 2003, paving the way for tighter controls on tobacco advertising and sponsorship, prominent health warnings on cigarette packets and greater protection for people from 'passive' smoke.

The treaty, heralded as the first global measure for public health, aims to reduce the estimated five million smoking-related deaths worldwide each year, which the WHO estimates could rise to 10 million annually by 2030 if prevention measures are not introduced. Under the Framework, all 192 WHO Member States are now committed to tightening controls on the advertising, marketing and sale of tobacco products within the next five years. Smokers will also find themselves buying cigarette packets on which at least one third of the space will be devoted to health warnings, including pictures of diseased lungs.

After four years of negotiations, developing countries, in particular, have welcomed the Framework Convention because they have become the prime target of tobacco companies keen to exploit one of the few regions of the world where tobacco-consumption is on the increase, especially amongst young women.

The European Union, where more than 500,000 deaths occur every year due to tobacco related diseases, has also welcomed the adoption of the treaty and said that it would seek to sign it and ratify it as quickly as possible. Commenting on its adoption, David Byrne, European Commissioner for Health, said:

'This is a ground breaking first and signals the commitment of governments all over the world to fight the tobacco scourge and protect their citizens from the worst excesses of a powerful global industry. Global problems, need global partnerships and local solutions. Armed with this convention we can move forward to make tobacco control a cornerstone of health and development'.

Although the majority of EU Member States were keen to adopt the treaty, the final decision to do so was only agreed on 16 May 2003 following opposition from Germany, where the advertising industry is particularly strong. Earlier in May, the German government had called for the EU to issue an additional declaration supporting the right of Member States to opt out of the convention's ban on tobacco advertising because of constitutional concerns.

The US government has expressed similar concerns that a total ban on advertising would be a violation of its constitutional commitment to free speech and whilst the EU, China and Japan all said they planned to ratify the treaty as soon as possible, Tommy Thompson, the US health secretary, would only say that Washington was 'reviewing the text of the convention'.

Once ratified, the WHO nations that support it will start to work out details of how to implement it and on additional protocols to strengthen provisions on cross-border issues such as advertising, smuggling and packaging and labelling requirements.

The signing of the treaty was a particular triumph for outgoing Director General of the WHO, Gro Harlem Brundtland, who made the fight against tobacco-related deaths a key issue during her time in office. Dr Brundtland's successor, Dr Jong-Wook Lee has said that he would immediately take steps to strengthen the organisation's global surveillance and response network to tackle disease outbreaks around the world.

Links:
World Health Organisation:
	Homepage
	21.05.03:	Press Release: World Health Assembly adopts historic Tobacco Control Pact
	Tobacco Free Initiative
European Commission:
	21.05.03:	Press Release: Commissioner Byrne welcomes adoption by the World Health Assembly of the world's first Convention on Tobacco Control
	DG Health: Tobacco
European Sources Online: Financial Times:
	22.05.03:	Tobacco treaty 'could be in force within a year'
	06.05.03:	Berlin stance threatens tobacco controls
	03.12.02:	European Union agrees to outlaw tobacco advertising
BBC News Online:
	21.05.03:	Key anti-smoking treaty adopted
	21.05.03:	Landmark tobacco treaty triggers debate
	21.05.03:	Q&A: Anti-smoking treaty
European Sources Online: In Focus
	Energy: Tobacco advertising to be outlawed across the European Union, December 2002
	Tobacco: Contradictory policies
European Sources Online: Topic Guides
	The European Union and Public Health

Helen Bower

Compiled: Friday, 23 May 2003

The World Health Organisation's Annual Assembly adopted the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control in Geneva on 21 May 2003.