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Health Advocates Praise Nations at International Tobacco Control Conference

Call for Urgent Action Against Secondhand Smoke, Cigarette Smuggling

Quezon City Philippines, 7 July 2007 – The Framework Convention Alliance, representing over 300 organizations from more than 100 countries, applauded nations attending negotiations on the World Health Organization’s tobacco control treaty for taking strong action that will protect health and save millions of lives around the world.

But for lives to be saved and illness avoided real action must be taken by governments at home.

“Nations representatives should be congratulated for working very hard but the conference outcomes are really just the bones: not until the meat is added by governments putting these decisions into practice at home will we see lives being saved,” Jose Leonidas, Executive Director of The Conference of Public Health Advocates said, “Urgent action needs to be taken to protect people from secondhand smoke and to stop the illegal trafficking in tobacco products which increases tobacco use and loses governments billions of dollars in tax revenue each year.”

In particular, the Framework Convention Alliance (FCA) praised nations for taking these important actions to implement the tobacco control treaty, the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control:

· 147 Nations adopted an international standard for protection from secondhand smoke that calls on governments to enact laws requiring 100 percent smoke-free workplaces and public places. This is the evidence-based standard that will guide nations in meeting their treaty commitments to protect citizens from secondhand smoke. The FCA calls on nations to quickly enact comprehensive smoke-free laws that implement the new global standard.

· Nations agreed to fund and launch expedited negotiations on a binding protocol, or side agreement to the treaty, to combat the illicit trade in tobacco products. This protocol is critical to reducing tobacco use and its devastating consequences around the world because smuggled and counterfeit cigarettes are sold at lower prices than legal products, contributing to higher tobacco consumption and greater rates of tobacco-related illness and death.

· (IF NEEDED) Nations also agreed to establish a working group to draft comprehensive guidelines on the implementation of the treaty provisions that call for a ban on domestic and cross-border tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship.

In the Philippines, it was estimated that 20,000 people die every year due to tobacco related diseases. In June 2003, the government enacted into law the Tobacco Regulatory Act or Republic Act 9211. The law needs to be fleshed out in the local municipality level and its major cities to attain some basic provisions like smoke free public places, bans on advertisement and cigarette pack warning.

The Philippines also host a factory of Philip Morris Inc. at Batangas City.

The Conference of Public Health Advocates would continue working in advocating in the local and city level the need for smoke free places, advertising bans and implementation of cigarette pact warnings.

For more information Conference of Public Health Advocates, mobile: 0917 856 6747

The Framework Convention Alliance is made up of almost 300 organizations representing over 100 countries around the world. It was created to support the development, ratification, and implementation of the WHO FCTC.

(Submitted by: Prof. Jose Leonidas, anti-smoking advocate and a sociology professor Meriam University)