WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control

- history, provisions, implementation

Dr Tibor Szilagyi
Convention Secretariat
WHO FCTC
szilagyit@who.int

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

WHO FCTC the Worlds first public health treaty

First treaty negotiated under the umbrella of WHO
Binding international law addressing a global health challenge
New model for effective response to the negative effects of
globalization on health
Comprehensive approach; combines demand and supply side
measures; multisectoral approach: requires involvement of all
government departments/ministries
Exchange of information, expertise and technologies and
multilateral cooperation

90% of the Worlds population covered

One in every 10
cigarettes and many
other tobacco
products consumed
in the world are
illegal
THE Protocol to
Eliminate Illicit
Trade in Tobacco
Products
54 SIGNATORIES
6 RATIFICATIONS
34 more are
needed

WHO FCTC key provisions

General obligations; strategies, action plans, legislation, preventing
tobacco industry interference
Price and tax measures
Protection from exposure to tobacco smoke
Regulation of the contents of tobacco products and disclosures
Packaging and labelling of tobacco products
Education, communication, training and public awareness
Tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship
Tobacco dependence and cessation
Illicit trade in tobacco products
Sales to and by minors
Provision of support for economically viable alternative activities
Liability
Research, surveillance, exchange of information
International cooperation

WHO FCTC time-bound measures

Protection from exposure to tobacco smoke (5 year - guidelines)
Packaging and labelling of tobacco products (3 year)
Tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship (5 year)

Implementation by the Parties

Examples of recent actions taken by the Parties

Bangladesh: National Tobacco Law amended in 2013; action on
alternative livelihoods: soft loans provided by banks
India: 85% warnings
from 1 Apr 2015

Kenya: strengthening smoke-free rules, new warnings, interactions

with the tobacco industry limited (2015)
Russian Federation: number of smokers has fallen by about 17%
since the adoption of tobacco control legislation in 2013.

Examples of recent actions taken by the Parties (2)

Iraq: comprehensive legislation adopted March 2012
Brazil: 3 Dec 2014 prohibition of indoor smoking across the
country
Ukraine: pictorial warnings (2011), TAPS ban, extending smoke-free
legislation (2012), tax increases (9x increase between 2008 and
2013; drop in sales of 40%)
China: new comprehensive
legislation under development,
including smoking ban and
strengthening of TAPS rules
Philippines: 50% graphic health
warnings, 2014
Pakistan: Febr 2015 85%
graphic warnings

GLOBAL
PROGRESS
Regular global reports based
on official communications of the Parties
REPORT

Impact of the WHO FCTC

PRE-FCTC

POST-FCTC

35

-0.44
%

-0.5
3%

-0.13%

-1.
0%

7%
-1.

-0.18%

25

20

-0.5
%

%
-2.7

PREVALENCE OF
SMOKING

30

AUSTRALI
A

NEW
ZEALAND
UK
TURKEY
URUGUAY

-1.
0%
.4%
-1

15

IRELAND

Source: WHO/PND

Summary
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
Comprehensive and stronger measures result in tangible impact
even on a short term
Many Parties have seen great achievements, but implementation is
still uneven between the different measures, countries and regions
Challenges remain:
tobacco industry interference and legal actions in national and international
forums;
coordinated intersectoral action;
strengthened international cooperation;
new and emerging tobacco products

Need for the illicit trade protocol to enter into force

Resouces and more information:

Website: www.who.int/fctc
Email: fctcsecretariat@who.int
Twitter: @fctcofficial
Facebook: FCTCofficial
News from Parties: http://
apps.who.int/fctc/implementation/database/upda
tes

Media centre:
http://www.who.int/fctc/mediacentre/en/