Draft treaty on tobacco control released

The draft treaty providing the basis for the final stage of negotiation on a Framework Convention on Tobacco Control was released by WHO on 16 July. Ambassador Luiz Felipe de Seixas Correa, the Brazilian diplomat who is the Chairman of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body for the Framework Convention, oversaw the drafting of the text. He called it "a basket of best options for nations seeking to curb the tobacco epidemic." The points it covers include tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship; illicit trade in tobacco products; taxes; international cooperation in areas such as agricultural diversification; and finance.

These will be considered by WHO's Member States at a meeting in Geneva from 14 to 25 October this year. The draft treaty should then be ready to present to the World Health Assembly for adoption in May 2003. "As in any negotiations, there is a process of give and take and it is my firm belief that this text will meet the target date for adoption," said Correa.

The Framework Convention represents WHO's first engagement in treaty- making. In addition to the health sector, ministries of finance, trade and foreign affairs have been involved in the process. Tobacco kills 4.2 million people a year and is expected to kill over 10 million a year by the late 2020s unless major steps are taken now to change the trend.

For further information, contact Helen Green, Information Officer for noncommunicable diseases and mental health (email: greenh@who.int).