[Intl-tobacco] Another Framework Convention (US only) update

[Robert Weissman]

Action Alert
From: San Francisco Tobacco Free Project

The Department of Health and Human Services is soliciting comments on the
Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) until March 31,2000.=20

Worldwide mortality from tobacco is likely to rise from about 4 million
deaths a year in 1998 to about 10 million a year in 2030 with over 70% of
those deaths occurring in the developing world. This global epidemic needs
a global response. The Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) will
be the first legally binding convention/agreement to be negotiated by the
Member States of the World Health Organization. When adopted the FCTC will
represent the world's first legally binding agreement focusing on global
tobacco control.  The FCTC will be developed by the 191 member states of
the World Health Organization, of which the United States is a permanent
member. Once adopted, the FCTC will address issues such as:

=B7 Environmental tobacco smoke
=B7 Protection of children and adolescents, including prevention programmes
=B7 Smuggling of tobacco products
=B7 Sale of duty-free tobacco products
=B7 Advertising, promotion, and sponsorship (with or without
counter-advertising)
=B7 Packaging and labeling of tobacco product ingredients
=B7 Tobacco industry regulation
=B7 Information exchange
=B7 Health education and research
=B7 Agricultural policies
=B7 Product regulation
=B7 Evidence based treatment and cessation programmes

The FCTC process as begun.  It is anticipated that an Intergovernmental
Negotiating Body will be established in May 2000 to negotiate the text of
the FCTC and related protocols. It is crucial that we participate in the
process and let the U.S. Representatives to the FCTC know of our concerns
and priorities.

The United States is home to the Philip Morris, the largest tobacco company
in the world. Philip Morris, RJ Reynolds, and the rest of the American
tobacco companies will use all of their political might to mold the FCTC to
their advantage.  It is vital that the public health community counters
this strategy:

Comments can be submitted by mail or electronically (electronic submissions
are encouraged).

=B7 To submit electronic comments, send via e-mail to FCTC@cdc.gov.

=B7 To submit comments by mail, send to: FCTC Comments (Attn: Ms. Monica
Swann), Office on Smoking and Health, 200 Independence Avenue, SW., Room
317-B, Washington, DC 20201.

It is anticipated that additional comment periods and public meetings will
be convened before the completion of the FCTC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Monica Swann,
Office on Smoking and Health, Centers for Disease Control, 200 Independence
 Avenue, SW., Rm 317-B, Washington, DC 20201, (202) 205-8500  or e-mail|
FCTC@cdc.gov.
 FCTC Comments=20
(Attn: Ms. Monica Swann)
Office on Smoking and Health
200 Independence Avenue, SW.,=20
Room 317-B
Washington, DC 20201

Dear Ms. Swann:

Worldwide mortality from tobacco is likely to rise from about 4 million
deaths a year in 1998 to about 10 million a year in 2030 with over 70% of
those deaths occurring in the developing world. This global epidemic cannot
be addressed through national action alone, but requires a global response.
The Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) will be the first
legally binding convention/agreement to be negotiated by the Member States
of the World Health Organization. When adopted the FCTC will represent the
world's first legally binding agreement focusing on global tobacco control.
 The FCTC will be developed by the 191 member states of the World Health
Organization, of which the United States is a permanent member. The FCTC
represents a global solution to a global health epidemic.=20

The World Bank report, "Curbing the Tobacco Epidemic" examines the
economics of tobacco control and clearly shows that tobacco control is not
only good for health, but is also good for a country's economy.

U.S. tobacco companies have aggressively expanded their markets abroad by
employing manipulative and deceptive advertising and marketing techniques
to expand their sales resulting in two-thirds of their sales and nearly
half of their profits coming from overseas. The United States therefore has
an obligation to negotiate the FCTC from a global perspective rather than a
domestic perspective. The following are key elements to include in the
Framework Convention on Tobacco Control:

1. That the FCTC and related protocols include specific provisions that
establishes the FCTC as the minimum standard for global tobacco policies
and allows countries to adopt stronger national policies.

2. That the FCTC and related protocols include a specific provision that
State Parties have the right to adopt domestic measures additional to those
referred to in the FCTC.

3. That the FCTC and related protocols include provisions that parties may
enter into bilateral or multilateral agreements, including regional or
sub-regional agreements, and that these agreements could include more
stringent measures than the FCTC and/or protocols.

4. That member states should not be allowed to make reservations when
signing onto the FCTC (A "reservation" means that a country signs onto the
FCTC but states that it is not signing on to certain parts of the FCTC).

5. That a financial mechanism be put in place whereby high-income countries
are obligated to provide financial assistance to low and middle-income
countries to implement the FCTC.=20

6. That member states be obligated to aid and assist non-governmental
organizations in their tobacco control work to ensure community-sensitive
strategies and vigorous implementation of the FCTC and related protocols.

7. That the FCTC include a binding method of dispute resolutions.

In addition to the above key elements, the process by which the FCTC is
negotiated is vital to the integrity of the FCTC. The process by which the
FCTC is developed should include:

1. That protocols be negotiated at the same time the FCTC is being
developed rather than after the FCTC is developed.

2. That the United States delegation includes members of the public health
community including community based organizations, communities of color,
faith community, women, and youth..

3. That the United States delegation makes public the comments made by the
delegates during working group meetings and request additional public
comments on an on-going basis during the course of development of the FCTC.

4. That the United States government sign on to the FCTC in a timely manner
once it has been adopted by the World Health Assembly.

Thank you for the opportunity to provide comments on the development of the
Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.


Sincerely,