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S A V I N G L I V E S F O R A D E C A D E

10th Anniversary of theWHO Framework Convention

on Tobacco Control

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What is the WHO FCTC?

▪ The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC)is the world’s only legally-binding public health tool. It aims to save lives through preventing and controlling the use of tobacco products – 179 countries and the European Union have so far become Parties to the Convention, demonstrating how important they believe it to be.

▪ The WHO FCTC combines comprehensive measures to decrease public demand for tobacco products with those to reduce their supply, for example by reducing the amount of tobacco grown around the world, as well as the manufacture and trade of tobacco products.

▪ The WHO FCTC requires all relevant government departments to support its implementation, and intergovernmental agencies and civil society should also contribute if its objective is to be achieved.

▪ Due to the irreconcilable conflict between tobacco industry (including state tobacco monopolies) interests and public health, the Convention obliges Parties to protect their tobacco control policies from interference by the tobacco industry.

In its 10 years of existence, the WHO FCTC has succeeded in keeping

tobacco control high on the global agenda, while

saving lives and improving global health.

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How is the tobacco control treaty governed?

▪ The Conference of the Parties (COP) is the WHO FCTC’s governing body, made up of all Parties to the Convention. States that are not Parties and observer organizations (intergovernmental and nongovernmental) also participate in its meetings.

▪ The Convention Secretariat is a permanent body to support Parties to implement the Convention. WHO hosts the Secretariat at its Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.

By implementing FCTC-compliant legislation, many Parties have seen significant

declines in their current smoking prevalence. For example, in Turkey and

Uruguay smoking prevalence declined by 22% and 25% respectively, in 10 years.

The Permanent Secretariat of the

Convention is established

Article 8 guidelines adopted

COP1Switzerland

COP2

Thailand

COP3

South AfricaWorld Health Assembly (WHA) initiates the

development of a framework convention

WHO FCTC enters into force

56th WHA adopts the WHO FCTC

10th anniversary of the

WHO FCTC

Article 6 guidelines and policy

options on Articles 17 and 18

adopted

Intergovernmental Negotiating Body

and a technical Working group

established by WHA

The Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products

adopted

COP5

Republic of Korea

May 19

96

May 1999

21 M

ay 20

03

27 Fe

brua

ry 20

05

Febr

uary

2006

March

2006

June–July 2007

November 2008

November 2012

2013

2009

Octobe

r 201

4

27 Fe

brua

ry 2

015

November 2010

2004

2000

2002

2001

199719

98

1996 – 2000

2011 – 2016

2001 – 2005

Ini t

i at i o

n o f t h e t r e a t y a n d f o r mal drafting and negotiations of the t e x t

2011

COP6

Russian Federation

2016

COP7

India

Negotiations start

E v o l u t i o n o f t h e t r eaty

2006 – 2010

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From an idea to a treaty with 180 Parties

Article 8 guidelines adopted

Article 5.3, 11 and 13 guidelines adopted

Article 12 and 14 guidelines and partial

guidelines on Articles 9 and 10

adopted

COP2

Thailand

COP3

South AfricaCO

P4U

ruguay

November 2008

November 2010

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From an idea to a treaty with 180 Parties

Parties to the WHO FCTC

Parties Not applicableNon-Parties

Number of Parties 2003–2015

Year

87

140151

160167 171 174 176 177

27 Fe

brua

ry 20

05

40

27 Fe

brua

ry 20

15

180179

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

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Article 5.3

An increasing number of Parties are taking steps through laws or

by other means to prevent tobacco industry interference, such as

preventing the industry from par-ticipating in the development of

legislation or sponsoring sporting events.

Article 5

Parties have made signifi-

cant progress in adopting new tobacco control legislation and action plans, and establishing multisectoral bodies to coor-

dinate national tobacco control efforts.

Article 5.2

80% of the Parties have strengthened their existing or adopted new

tobacco control legislation after ratifying the

Convention.

Article 8

Many Parties have introduced smoking bans in indoor public places,

such as restaurants, cafés and other workplaces. More and more Parties are also banning smoking in outdoor areas,

like beaches, bus stops, public parks, playgrounds and markets. To increase

the protection of children, some Parties have prohibited smoking

in private cars carrying children.

Article 8

In 2005, only 5 Parties had im-posed a complete ban of smoking in all public places, workplaces and public transport. As at 31 December 2014, 48 Parties had adopted legis-lation towards this end, an almost

10-fold increase since 2005.

Article 6

Many Parties have increased taxes to decrease tobacco consumption.

The average price of a packet of cigarettes has increased by almost 150% in the past five years around the world.

More than 40 Parties use tobacco tax earmarking to support public

health and tobacco control programmes.

Progress made by Parties in the last 10 years

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Article 14

Quit lines have traditionally been used to assist tobacco users,

and operate in almost one quarter of the State Parties. New and innovative approaches to tobacco cessation are

proving effective, including cell-phone text messaging, Internet-based

behavioural support and smartphone applications.

Article 17 and 18

More and more countries are successfully promoting alternatives to tobacco growing. Replacement

crops include bamboo, beans, corn, cane, fruits, safflower

and soy. Article 11

Many Parties require large

graphic health warnings on all tobacco packaging, some of them after overcoming legal challenges posed by

the tobacco industry. Plain packaging of tobacco products (with no branding, colours, imagery, corporate logos or

trademarks) is another area to which Parties are paying

more attention.

Article 11

In 2005, only 6 Parties required

large (more than 50%) and rotating pictorial health warnings; most coun-

tries only had text warnings. At the end of 2014, 43 Parties request warnings

with the same characteristics, a more than 7-fold increase

since 2005.

Article 16

The legal age to buy

tobacco products has been set or increased in several Parties

to 21 or 20 years of age in recent years.

Article 13

In addition to banning tradi-tional forms of advertising (e.g. print media and billboards), several Parties have banned the display of tobacco products at points of sale. Instead,

tobacco products are stored in non-transparent, locked

containers.

Article 9

Some Parties have banned additives in tobacco products, such as

menthol, sugar and flavourings, which are all designed to make the taste of tobacco

products more attractive. Another important development in this area is the establishment

of new standards for reduced ignition propensity cigarettes, which have been

shown to reduce deaths caused by smoking-related fires.

Progress made by Parties in the last 10 years

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Achievements since the WHO FCTC’s entry into force

Evolution of the Convention as an international treaty

▪ The Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products, the WHO FCTC’s first protocol, was adopted on 12 November 2012. The Protocol is a new international treaty open to all Parties to the WHO FCTC, and aims to tackle smuggling and other kinds of illicit trade which are a grave danger to public health.

▪ The COP has adopted eight guidelines for implemention of key dema nd-reduction measures and preventing tobacco industry interference. Policy options and recommendations on economically sustainable alternatives to tobacco growing have also been adopted by the Parties.

One in every ten cigarettes and many other tobacco

products consumed in the world are

illegal

Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in

Tobacco Products

It ought to be law!

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A second treaty created by the Parties

Initiation of

the

t re a

t y a

n d f o r m a l d r a f t i n g a n d n e g o t i a t i o n s o f t h e t e x t COP5

Repu

blic

of K

orea

Opening for signature, ratification, acceptance, approval, formal confirmation

and accession

Closing of signature

period

Intersessional regional consultations

(between INB2 and INB3)

2006

2006

2010

2012

2006 – 2009

2010 – 2015

Establishes expert group to prepare a

template for a protocol on the basis of

Article 15 of the WHO FCTC

Meetings of the expert

group

Establishes Intergovernmental

Negotiating Body to draft and negotiate a

protocol on illicit trade

COP1

Switz

erlan

d

INB1and INB2 INB3

INB4INB5

2007

COP2Thailand

2009 2009

10 January 2013

2008

9 Jan

uary

2014

Adoption of the

Protocol

2015

Protocol remains open for

ratification and acceptance

N e g o t i a t i o n s o f a p r o t o c o l

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Visions for the future

▪ Some Parties are aiming to reach less than 5% prevalence of tobacco use, including Finland, Ireland and New Zealand, while the Pacific island countries are aiming to become “tobacco-free islands” by 2025.

▪ The WHO FCTC’s full implementation would support global commitments to achieving a 25% reduction in premature deaths from noncommunicable diseases by 2025, including a 30% reduction in the prevalence of tobacco use in persons aged 15 years and over.

Challenges ahead

▪ The tobacco industry’s strategies to counteract, delay or dilute measures to implement the WHO FCTC are evolving. They include the use of front groups (e.g. tobacco growers), promoting “corporate social responsibility”, circumventing advertising bans by using media not covered in existing legislation, and lobbying of decision-makers. Legal actions in national and international forums, as well as trade and investment agreements, are used by the tobacco industry and its allies to hinder tobacco control measures.

▪ The growth in the use of new products, such as electronic nicotine delivery systems, and of existing products in new settings, such as waterpipes, is alarming. Addressing new and emerging tobacco products will be vital to the success of future tobacco control efforts.

For more information:

Website: www.who.int/fctc Email: fctcsecretariat@who.int Twitter: @fctcofficialFacebook: FCTCofficial

Graphic design: Sophie Guetaneh Aguettant