PHA-Exchange> Final talks on global tobacco control start

[Syed Mahbubul Alam Tahin]

Final talks on global tobacco control start
By Frances Williams in Geneva
Published: February 18 2003 4:00


More than 190 countries yesterday began the sixth and final round of
negotiations on an international tobacco control treaty designed to
reverse the growing worldwide toll of deaths from smoking.
Gro Harlem Brundtland, director-general of the World Health
Organisation, said the pact aimed to save "hundreds of millions of
lives".
The proposed framework convention on tobacco control, the first-ever
global health treaty negotiated by the WHO, will include binding
rules on tobacco taxation, smuggling, advertising and promotion,
product regulation, and smoking prevention and treatment.
It is due to be adopted by health ministers at the WHO's annual
assembly in May.
"The tobacco epidemic is killing 4.9m people every year, which will
double in 20 years if we do nothing to stop it", Dr Brundtland said.
"We know that a big part of the solution lies in promoting
stop-smoking programmes, raising tobacco taxes, increasing education,
banning tobacco advertising and cracking down on smuggling."
According to WHO estimates based on current smoking trends, tobacco
will soon be the world's biggest killer, causing more deaths than
Aids, maternal mortality, car accidents, murder and suicide combined.
About 70 per cent of smoking-related deaths from lung cancer, heart
disease, strokes and other diseases will occur in developing
countries.
Anti-tobacco activists have criticised the draft treaty as too weak,
claiming that the WHO has bowed to pressure from the US, Japan and
Germany - home to powerful tobacco companies - to water down key
provisions.
In particular, the draft does not require a total advertising ban
although this has the support of the great majority of rich and poor
countries.
However, Dr Brundtland, who set the tobacco talks in motion and has
made them a priority of her five-year term in office, said the draft
was "an excellent basis for an effective treaty". The text made clear
that an advertising ban was the ultimate goal, and countries with
planning bans could make binding declarations to that effect.
Luis Felipe de Seixas Corrêa, Brazil's Geneva ambassador and chairman
of the talks, said what was wanted was "an effective convention that
will make a difference" to public health, and that meant obtaining
the support of a large number of key countries.
"Then we can go forward", he said. www.who.int





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