[Intl-tobacco] Framework Convention sign on

[Robert Weissman]

Below follows a request for organizational endorsements of principles for
WHO's Framework Convention for Tobacco Control. Please send responses to
this request to Judith Glanz, Manager, International Issues, Campaign for
Tobacco-Free Kids, jglanz@tobaccofreekids.org, NOT to the list.

Robert Weissman
Essential Information			|   Internet:	rob@essential.org


Sign-on Form Statement of Core Principles on the Framework Convention on
Tobacco Control

(Current signatories include: American Cancer Society, American Heart
Association, American Lung Association, American Public Health
Association,  Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids)

We join with public health and other non-governmental organizations in the
U.S. in endorsing the attached Core Principles on the Framework Convention
on Tobacco Control.  These principles will be be provided to the Clinton
Administration and will guide our negotiating positions during the
Framework Convention negotiations.    Thank you for your support.

Name of Organization (as it will appear on list of signatories):

_________________________________________________

Name or organizational contact person:

_________________________________________________ 

Address:  _________________________________________

Phone:     _________________________________________

Fax:          _________________________________________

Email:       _________________________________________

Please return completed forms to:  Judith Glanz, Manager, International
Issues, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.  Email:   HYPERLINK
mailto:jglanz@tobaccofreekids.org   jglanz@tobaccofreekids.org    Fax: 202
296-5427.

CORE PRINCIPLES
For the 
WHO Framework Convention 
On 
Tobacco Control


The problems caused by tobacco cut across national boundaries and,
therefore, the solutions must be international in scope.  We believe
strongly that the following core principles should guide the development
of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).  These
principles represent sound public health policy and establish a basis upon
which Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) should evaluate the decisions
made by the parties negotiating the Convention.

The Convention should recognize that there is no single policy that will
solve the problems caused by tobacco.  To be effective, tobacco control
efforts must be comprehensive and include, at a minimum, agreements
relating to: 

Tobacco price and tax policies;
Passive smoking;
Protecting women and children; 
Smuggling of tobacco products;
Sale of duty-free tobacco products;
Advertising, promotion and sponsorship of tobacco products;
Tobacco product regulation, including testing and reporting of tobacco
product ingredients and constituents, and the ability to require tobacco
product modification;
Tobacco industry regulation;
Information exchange and technology transfer;
Health education and research;
Agricultural policies; and
Tobacco use prevention and cessation programs.

Health concerns should be the first priority of the parties negotiating
the Convention and related protocols and should govern all decisions made
by them.  All negotiating parties should have a public health rationale
for each of their positions.

Provisions of the Convention and any related protocols thereto must be
legally binding on the tobacco companies and, therefore, must (1) be
implemented by legislation or regulation by each signatory and, (2) where
appropriate, provide for strict enforcement mechanisms by each signatory.

Provisions in the Framework Convention itself, independent of protocols,
should have a positive impact on tobacco control efforts. All issues
should be dealt with, as specifically and thoroughly as possible, within
the actual Framework Convention rather than being reserved solely to the
protocols.

Nothing in the Framework Convention or related protocols should reduce,
relax or in any other way diminish existing tobacco control initiatives,
regulations, laws, or practices in any signatory.  Nothing in the
Convention or its protocols should prevent or discourage a party from
taking stronger action than required by the Convention or its protocols.

The Convention should include provisions for binding resolution of
disputes between states and penalties for non-compliance.

Given their history, tobacco companies and their subsidiaries should not
be an official party to the negotiations and should not be allowed to
serve on any advisory, scientific advisory, enforcement or implementation
bodies of the FCTC.

NGOs should be fully integrated into the Framework Convention process.
Rules for NGO participation should rely on the precedents set at other
recent UN Conferences.  The World Health Organization should work with
governments and private organizations to seek funds for ensuring strong
representation from developing country NGOs.