[Intl-tobacco] Framework Convention Update

[Robert Weissman]

FRAMEWORK CONVENTION UPDATE
>From American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, American Lung
Association, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids

November 21, 2001

The world’s nations are meeting Nov. 22-28, 2001, in Geneva,
Switzerland, for the third round of negotiations on the Framework
Convention on Tobacco Control, the international tobacco control treaty
proposed by the World Health Organization (WHO).  The Framework
Convention Update will provide periodic reports on developments at the
negotiations, focused on the actions of the U.S. delegation.

Health Groups Call on U.S. to Protect Public Health, not the Tobacco
Industry
On the eve of the negotiations, U.S. public health groups are calling on
the Bush Administration and its team of negotiators to put protection of
the public health first.  During the last negotiations, in May, the U.S.
repeatedly made proposals that would weaken key provisions of the
treaty.  The U.S. delegation sought, among other things, to delete or
weaken provisions that would: ban the use of deceptive terms such as
low-tar, light and mild to market tobacco products; prohibit tax-free
and duty-free sales of cigarettes; encourage tobacco taxation as a
tobacco control tool; support strong clean indoor air restrictions; and
call for the licensing of tobacco retailers as a means to enforce youth
access laws.  "The American Lung Association calls on the Bush
Administration to reject Big Tobacco's influence and support a strong
and effective treaty," said John L. Kirkwood, CEO of the American Lung
Association. The Campaign for Tobacco-free Kids said, "The coming round
of negotiations presents the U.S. with the opportunity to redeem itself
and act as a leader in protecting public health around the world, not as
a chief defender of the tobacco industry’s interests."

New Poll Shows U.S. Public Supports Strong Treaty
A poll commissioned by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids found that 72
percent of American adults support an international effort, led by the
WHO, to "create a set of rules and regulations that would reduce tobacco
use and the harm caused to health by tobacco." The poll also found
strong support for specific provisions:
* 73 percent support stronger restrictions on advertising and promoting
tobacco products.
* 84 percent support requiring strong and visible warnings on tobacco
products.
* 78 percent support tougher laws to stop smuggling of tobacco products
between countries.
* 81 percent support government measures to monitor and regulate the
harmful chemicals contained in tobacco products.
* 82 percent support restrictions on where people can smoke so that the
health of non-smokers can be protected.
The telephone survey of 1,004 American adults was conducted Nov. 9-11,
2001, by Market Facts’ Tele Nation Survey.  It has a margin of error of
plus or minus 3.1 percent.

Congressman Waxman Links U.S., Philip Morris Positions
U.S. Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA) recently wrote President Bush to "protest
efforts by your Administration to undermine" the FCTC negotiations.
Based on documents obtained from the Department of Health and Human
Services, Waxman wrote, "My staff has identified eleven specific
instances where Philip Morris recommended deleting provisions of the
draft text.  In ten of the eleven instances, your negotiators proposed
or prepared amendments advocating exactly what Philip Morris urged."
Topics of these provisions included tobacco exports, tobacco taxes,
"light" and "low-tar" cigarettes, advertising, product regulation, and
duty-free sales.  "I urge you to revise your instructions to your
negotiating team and to support the strongest possible international
agreement," Waxman wrote.

Religious Leaders Petition President to Support Strong Treaty

A broad coalition of religious leaders is urging President Bush to
support a strong Framework Convention. In a petition sent to the
President, the leaders of the multi-faith coalition state, "As religious
leaders we cannot remain silent when each year the deaths of 4 million
of God’s children killed by tobacco cry out to us."  The petition was
signed by Christian, Jewish, Muslim and other religious leaders.
Specifically, the petition asks President Bush to affirm:
* That the U.S. executive branch has been instructed not to use any of
its powers to promote the sale, marketing or advertising of tobacco
products to or in other nations.
* That U.S. diplomats have been instructed to assist nations to which
they have been posted to develop effective tobacco prevention programs.
* That the U.S. delegation to the FCTC has been instructed to support
provisions in the Convention that assist low and middle-income nations
to curtail tobacco use and to protect non-smoking members of society,
especially the most vulnerable.

The World Bank estimates that between 80,000 and 100,000 children become
addicted to cigarettes each day worldwide.  Already, tobacco use kills
about four million people every year.  Based on current trends, the WHO
predicts that tobacco use will kill ten million people per year by 2030,
with 70 percent of those deaths occurring in developing countries.  The
Framework Convention will address transnational issues such as global
advertising, smuggling and trade, as well as serve as a catalyst in
strengthening national tobacco control legislation.