PHA-Exchange> UN GLOBAL TOBACCO-CONTROL TREATY ON TRACK TO BECOME LAW BY END OF YEAR

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 from Vern Weitzel <vern.weitzel at undp.org> -----

UN GLOBAL TOBACCO-CONTROL TREATY ON TRACK TO BECOME LAW BY END OF YEAR
New York, Jul  2 2004 
The United Nations global treaty to curb tobacco use, which now claims almost 
5 million lives every year and causes an estimated 
annual net loss of $200 billion in treatment and lost productivity, is on 
track to become binding international law by the end of 
the year, the UN health agency reported today.

With the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control 
(FCTC) closing for signature this week, nearly 90 per 
cent of the world’s countries have signed the treaty, which requires them to 
restrict tobacco advertising, sponsorship and 
promotion, set new labelling and clean indoor air controls and strengthen laws 
clamping down on tobacco smuggling.

The FCTC has become one of the most rapidly embraced UN conventions, with 167 
WHO Member States and the European Community (EC) 
signing, and 23 countries ratifying, accepting, approving or acceding – thus 
making it law –  just one year after the pact opened 
for signature in Geneva. More than half the required 40 ratifications are now 
in hand.

“Although we have good reason to be confident, a relentless effort will still 
be needed for the foreseeable future,” WHO 
Director-General Dr Lee Jong-wook said. “Current projections show a rise of 31 
per cent in tobacco-related deaths during the next 
22 years, which will double the current death toll, bringing it to almost 10 
million a year."

WHO urges countries that have signed to ratify the Treaty as soon as 
possible. “The sooner the 40 ratifications are in place, the 
sooner effective and coordinated actions within the Framework Convention at 
country level can begin,” said Catherine Le 
Galès-Camus, Assistant Director-General, Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental 
Health.

The treaty, adopted unanimously by all 192 Member States in May last year, is 
the first public health treaty negotiated under the 
auspices of WHO. It was designed to become a tool to manage what has become 
the single biggest preventable cause of death. There 
are currently an estimated 1.3 billion smokers worldwide. Half of them, some 
650 million people, are expected to die prematurely 
of a tobacco-related disease.


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