WHO urged to consider global anti-tobacco accord (fwd)

[Robert Weissman <rob@essential.org>]

WHO urged to consider global anti-tobacco accord

By Allan Dowd

VANCOUVER, Dec 2 (Reuters) - International health experts urged the World
Health Organization on Wednesday to lead a global fight against tobacco use
similar to the battle waged against landmines.

Experts from 18 countries, working in Vancouver, proposed an anti-tobacco
convention for the United Nations health agency, saying efforts by
individual nations to fight smoking are not adequate.

``Strong global action must compliment national action,'' said Dr. Derek
Yach, project manager for the WHO's ``Tobacco Free Initiative.''

A report released in October estimated there are more than 1.2 billion
smokers in the world and that 70 percent are in developing countries. More
10,000 people die each day from smoking-related diseases, the meeting was told.

Yach said the anti-smoking campaign needed the political force of an
international convention, such as those used to ban landmines and against
ozone depletion.

``That means it takes it to the level of foreign policy people and not
(just) health ministers. Much of the tobacco control issues have nothing to
do with health ministers,'' Yach said.

Representatives of the WHO are scheduled to meet in January with other UN
agencies and the International Monetary Fund to develop a coordinated
anti-tobacco strategy.

Efforts to develop an international convention on tobacco control are only
in their early stages, and although officials said the strategy is on an
accelerated schedule, any adoption of an accord is not expected until 2003.

If adopted, it would be the first such international treaty on fighting a
health issue.

Yach stressed that the convention, as envisioned now, would not call for a
ban on tobacco use, but could include controls on cigarette marketing and
promote efforts to inform smokers of the health dangers.

Speakers warned the Vancouver gathering that the fight against tobacco use
is inadequately funded, and nations must work together because the tobacco
industry is international.

``Just as tobacco is marketed by multinational companies, so too does
tobacco cause multinational problems,'' said British Columbia Health
Minister Penny Priddy.

British Columbia last month became the first Canadian province to sue the
tobacco industry over the health costs. The suit is similar to those filed
in the United States by more than 40 states and is expected to use evidence
developed in the those legal battles.

Yach acknowledged an international anti-smoking effort would likely face
opposition from both the industry and countries that export tobacco. ``I
can't promise it is going to be an easy debate,'' he said.

Copyright © 1998 Reuters Limited.