Landmark global tobacco treaty coming into effect

The Canada-inspired global treaty to reduce tobacco sales and use comes into effect Feb. 28.

Figure. What's being sold here? The treaty includes new tobacco advertising guidelines. Photo by: Campaign for Tobacco-free Kids

Canada sponsored the original resolution in 1995 that led to the development of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, the world's first international health treaty.

In addition, Canada's tobacco control strategies were a template for many of the measures, said Cynthia Callard, executive director of Physicians for a Smoke-free Canada. “Canada was a big champion of the treaty financially and morally.”

The treaty, which is legally binding, bans tobacco advertising and promotion unless constitutional barriers exist and requires warning labels that cover 30% of cigarette packages.

It also provides nations with a roadmap for enacting research-based policies in areas such as secondhand smoke protections, tobacco taxation, tobacco product regulation, combatting cigarette smuggling, public education, and tobacco cessation treatment.

Given that the treaty touches on many legislative areas, including taxation, advertising, education, law and health, it is “quite astounding” that it passed, said Carla Gilders, the director general of Health Canada's International Affairs Directorate.

The treaty was agreed on by WHO's 192 member states in 2003, but wasn't slated to come into effect until 90 days after being ratified by 40 countries. Peru became the 40th on Nov. 30. The US has not yet ratified the treaty despite pressure from lobby groups such as the American Lung Association.

The ratifying countries — 49 as of mid-January — will be part of the Conference of Parties, which will decide how to manage, monitor and finance the treaty, which is binding.

Canada is already in “substantial compliance because much of the treaty was modelled on Canadian legislation,” said Gilders. In addition to taking part in the conference, Canada will share its expertise. There is $1 million in the Tobacco Control Strategy fund for international projects.

Diseases related to tobacco use kill nearly 5 million people worldwide every year. About 84% of smokers live in developing countries, where the tobacco epidemic is still growing.