[Intl-tobacco] Kenya asks WHO, World Bank not to rush anti-tobacco convention (fwd)

[Robert Weissman]

Kenya asks WHO, World Bank not to rush anti-tobacco convention
by Horace Awori / Bridge News
Source: NewsEdge, Wednesday, 3/15/00

Nairobi--Mar 14--Kenyan Agriculture Minister Chris Obure has asked the
World Bank and World Health Organization (WHO) not to rush through the
proposed tobacco convention until the views of all the stakeholders are
taken into account. Obure was addressing a meeting of the International
Tobacco Growers Association (ITGA) here late Monday.


ITGA chief executive, Antonio Abrunhosa, described the convention as
the biggest ever threat to tobacco growing in the world and accused the
WHO of switching from science to politics.

The two were reacting to the campaign by the WHO and the World Bank to
control tobacco use in the world.

The convention mooted by the two organizations seeks a comprehensive
ban on advertising and marketing and to stop tobacco production by year
2003.

The World Bank has said it will not provide support for agriculture
schemes that include tobacco leaf production.

But Obure warned that the social and economic importance of the crop
to farmers in Africa should not be ignored.

He also questioned the rationale of allowing health policy to unfairly
dictate matters of economics, trade, labor and agriculture, without
consultations with all stakeholders.

He said the convention which seeks to ban tobacco advertising and
promotion in global communication media, eliminate smoking at work and
public places and also wants excise taxes on the crop f rom 67% to 80%
is likely to generate a lot of debate.

"Before finalizing any action at international level, I hope the views
of all stakeholders in the tobacco industry in Kenya including the
farmers and the tobacco companies will be accommodated," the minister
declared.

Kenya has about 300,000 farmers engaged in tobacco production from
which they earn over 630 million shillings a year.

Tobacco exports earn the country 420 million shillings.

(Kenya shillings 74.20--US $1) End

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