[Intl-tobacco] US: Make Your Voice Heard on the Global Tobacco Treaty!

Wed, 28 Aug 2002 14:43:12 -0700

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On September 20th, 2002, the U.S. Government will hold a public hearing
on the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) in Nashville, TN.
This hearing takes place three weeks before the next round of
negotiations, and is a great opportunity to let the Administration know
that the public wants a strong global tobacco treaty.

Submitting Testimony:

Public health groups and others are encouraged to submit testimony to
the Department of Health and Human Services. You do not need to attend
the hearing itself in order to submit testimony. Written comments may be
submitted until September 27, 2002. Comments can be submitted by mail or
electronically (electronic submissions are encouraged).

To submit electronic comments, send via e-mail to
FCTC.OGHA@osophs.dhhs.gov To submit comments by mail, send to: FCTC
Comments (Attn: Ms. Gail Zaslow), Office of Global Health Affairs, 5600
Fishers Lane, Room 18?105, Rockville, MD 20857.

Remember that the tobacco industry and its front groups will also be
submitting testimony, so it is important that as many groups and
individuals as possible submit testimony favoring a strong FCTC.

Below is some background information and suggested talking points. The
Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids will be preparing comments -- it would be
incredibly helpful and appreciated if you could cc' us your comment as
well.

Background:

Tobacco use is the single largest preventable cause of premature death
and disease in the world today. Each year, 4 million people around the
globe die prematurely as a result of tobacco-caused diseases. By the
year 2020 over 10 millions will die each year unless swift action is
taken, with the majority of those deaths occurring in the developing
world. Tragically, this epidemic is being fuelled by an industry that
values profits above human life. In response to this burgeoning global
epidemic, the World Health Organization (WHO) has initiated the
first-ever international treaty on tobacco control, known as the
Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).

The FCTC could be a crucial tool in combating this global epidemic, by
defining clear, binding rules on issues that can only be resolved
through international agreement. (such as cross-border advertising,
smuggling and trade issues). It could also assist countries in
implementing best-practices in tobacco control on such issues as passive
smoking and labeling. On the other hand, a poorly drafted FCTC will
certainly be used by the tobacco industry as a powerful argument against
stronger legislation. Therefore it is important that the FCTC not
enshrine poorly-designed regulatory measures or subordinate the
protection of public health to the commercial interests of the tobacco
industry.

So far in the negotiations, the Bush Administration has continually
tried to water down the treaty on such critical issues as tobacco
advertising, consumer protection and trade. The Administration's
positions would facilitate the tobacco industry's assault on the
developing world, rather than empowering countries to protect the health
of their citizens. It is important that the Administration hear from
U.S. citizens that this conduct is completely unacceptable, and that
U.S. policy needs to change.

Suggested Talking Points:

Below are some suggested talking points for your testimony. Please feel
free to use any or all of these in your testimony:

·       The protection and promotion of public health should be the sole
basis for all of the positions of the U.S. negotiating team to the FCTC.

·       The United States should support a strong, enforceable treaty
that holds tobacco companies accountable and supports governments in
their effort to protect and promote public health.

·       The FCTC should elevate concern for public health above trade
concerns, as many countries have argued during the negotiations.

·       The FCTC must explicitly acknowledge that tobacco products are
uniquely harmful and that concern for public health should override
commercial considerations. In addition, a "non-interference" clause
should be added to the FCTC to prevent countries from promoting tobacco
use in other countries or seeking to undermine other nations' tobacco
control laws.

·       Tobacco advertising is a prime 'vector' of tobacco related
disease, and its elimination could reduce tobacco consumption
substantially - saving millions of lives in the 21st Century. The FCTC
should endorse the only known effective policy: a total ban on all
direct and indirect ban on advertising. The FCTC  should also include a
ban on cross-border advertising, an international issue which could only
be dealt with in the FCTC. The text should not endorse ineffective
approaches, such as partial restrictions or youth-only measures.

·       The FCTC should set a floor, rather than a ceiling, for national
efforts. Obligations within the FCTC should not be framed in such a way
that they could become barriers to the enactment or implementation of
stronger measures.

·       The FCTC should reverse the perverse incentives that tobacco
companies and wholesalers currently have to facilitate cigarette
smuggling. Appropriate measures would include the development of a
liability regime to hold companies responsible and the launching of
investigations and legal action aimed at those orchestrating smuggling.

·       The FCTC should recognize that exposure to second-hand smoke
represents a serious and preventable health risk to nonsmokers, and
should prohibit smoking in places of employment and public gathering.

·       The FCTC should contain a clear commitment to devoting no less
than 50% of the principal display panels of cigarette packet to health
warnings and consumer information. Packs should not be required to
indicate 'sale prohibited to minors' as this would have the perverse
effect of making smoking seem more 'grown up' and thus attractive to
young people.

·       The U.S. should support an outright ban on the use of misleading
descriptors such as 'low-tar' and 'light' and 'mild'. The U.S. National
Cancer Institute has already determined that these terms have misled
smokers into believing that such cigarettes are less harmful, and that
this deception constitutes an "urgent public health issue". This should
be reflected in the FCTC.

Sign the Online Petition!

Another way you can make your voice heard is by signing the online
petition asking President Bush to support a strong FCTC. Signing the
petition is easy. Simply go to:
http://www.tobaccofreekids.org/campaign/global/globalhealth

More Information:

More information about the FCTC and global tobacco issues can be found
on the following websites:

http://tobaccofreekids.org/global
Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids

http://www.fctc.org
Framework Convention Alliance (international coalition of NGOs)

http://www5.who.int/tobacco/
World Health Organization

Attending the Meeting: (from the Federal Register notice)

"The public meeting will be held onSeptember 20, 2002, from 9:15 a.m.
to5 p.m. at the Nashville Public Library,615 Church Street, Nashville,
TN 37219. Seating capacity is 125 people. Comments also will be accepted
during the public meeting. Those who wish to attend are encouraged to
register early with the contact person listed below. If you will require
a sign language interpreter, or have other special needs, please notify
the contact person by 4:30 E.D.T. on September 5, 2002. FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Zaslow, Office of Global Health Affairs, 5600
Fishers Lane, Room 18?105, Rockville, MD 20857, 301?443?1774 (telephone)
or 301?443?6822 (facsimile) or FCTC.OGHA@osophs.dhhs.gov"

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On September 20th, 2002, the U.S. Government
will hold a public hearing on the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control
(FCTC) in Nashville, TN. This hearing takes place three weeks before the
next round of negotiations,&nbsp;and
is a great opportunity to let the Administration know that the public wants
a strong global tobacco treaty.
Submitting Testimony:
Public health groups and others are
encouraged to submit testimony to the Department of Health and Human Services.
You do not need to attend the hearing itself in order to submit testimony.
Written comments may be submitted until September 27, 2002. Comments
can be submitted by mail or electronically (electronic submissions are
encouraged).
To submit electronic comments, send
via e-mail to <a href="mailto:FCTC.OGHA@osophs.dhhs.gov">FCTC.OGHA@osophs.dhhs.gov</a>
To submit comments by mail, send to: FCTC Comments (Attn: Ms. Gail Zaslow),
Office of Global Health Affairs, 5600 Fishers Lane, Room 18&shy;105, Rockville,
MD 20857.
Remember that the tobacco industry
and its front groups will also be submitting testimony, so it is important
that as many groups and individuals as possible submit testimony favoring
a strong FCTC.
Below&nbsp;is
some&nbsp;background information and suggested talking points.&nbsp;The
Campaign&nbsp;for Tobacco Free Kids&nbsp;will
be preparing comments --&nbsp;it
would be incredibly helpful and appreciated if you&nbsp;could
cc' us your comment&nbsp;as well.
Background:
Tobacco use is the single largest preventable
cause of premature death and disease in the world today. Each year, 4 million
people around the globe die prematurely as a result of tobacco-caused diseases.
By the year 2020 over 10 millions will die each year unless swift action
is taken, with the majority of those deaths occurring in the developing
world. Tragically, this epidemic is being fuelled by an industry that values
profits above human life. In response to this burgeoning global epidemic,
the World Health Organization (WHO) has initiated the first-ever international
treaty on tobacco control, known as the Framework Convention on Tobacco
Control (FCTC).
The FCTC could be a crucial tool in
combating this global epidemic, by defining clear, binding rules on issues
that can only be resolved through international agreement. (such as cross-border
advertising, smuggling and trade issues). It could also assist countries
in implementing best-practices in tobacco control on such issues as passive
smoking and labeling. On the other hand, a poorly drafted FCTC will certainly
be used by the tobacco industry as a powerful argument against stronger
legislation. Therefore it is important that the FCTC not enshrine poorly-designed
regulatory measures or subordinate the protection of public health to the
commercial interests of the tobacco industry.
So far in the negotiations, the Bush
Administration has continually tried to water down the treaty on such critical
issues as tobacco advertising, consumer protection and trade. The Administration's
positions would facilitate the tobacco industry's assault on the developing
world, rather than empowering countries to protect the health of their
citizens. It is important that the Administration hear from U.S. citizens
that this conduct is completely unacceptable, and that U.S. policy needs
to change.
Suggested Talking Points:
Below are some suggested talking points
for your testimony. Please feel free to use any or all of these in your
testimony:
&middot;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
The protection and promotion of public health should be the sole basis
for all of the positions of the U.S. negotiating team to the FCTC.
&middot;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
The United States should support a strong, enforceable treaty that holds
tobacco companies accountable and supports governments in their effort
to protect and promote public health.
&middot;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
The FCTC should elevate concern for public health above trade concerns,
as many countries have argued during the negotiations.
&middot;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
The FCTC must explicitly acknowledge that tobacco products are uniquely
harmful and that concern for public health should override commercial considerations.
In addition, a "non-interference" clause should be added to the FCTC to
prevent countries from promoting tobacco use in other countries or seeking
to undermine other nations' tobacco control laws.
&middot;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Tobacco advertising is a prime 'vector' of tobacco related disease, and
its elimination could reduce tobacco consumption substantially - saving
millions of lives in the 21st Century. The FCTC should endorse the only
known effective policy: a total ban on all direct and indirect ban on advertising.
The FCTC&nbsp; should also include a ban on cross-border advertising, an
international issue which could only be dealt with in the FCTC. The text
should not endorse ineffective approaches, such as partial restrictions
or youth-only measures.
&middot;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
The FCTC should set a floor, rather than a ceiling, for national efforts.
Obligations within the FCTC should not be framed in such a way that they
could become barriers to the enactment or implementation of stronger measures.
&middot;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
The FCTC should reverse the perverse incentives that tobacco companies
and wholesalers currently have to facilitate cigarette smuggling. Appropriate
measures would include the development of a liability regime to hold companies
responsible and the launching of investigations and legal action aimed
at those orchestrating smuggling.
&middot;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
The FCTC should recognize that exposure to second-hand smoke represents
a serious and preventable health risk to nonsmokers, and should prohibit
smoking in places of employment and public gathering.
&middot;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
The FCTC should contain a clear commitment to devoting no less than 50%
of the principal display panels of cigarette packet to health warnings
and consumer information. Packs should not be required to indicate 'sale
prohibited to minors' as this would have the perverse effect of making
smoking seem more 'grown up' and thus attractive to young people.
&middot;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
The U.S. should support an outright ban on the use of misleading descriptors
such as 'low-tar' and 'light' and 'mild'. The U.S. National Cancer Institute
has already determined that these terms have misled smokers into believing
that such cigarettes are less harmful, and that this deception constitutes
an "urgent public health issue". This should be reflected in the FCTC.
Sign the Online Petition!
Another way you can make your voice
heard is by signing the online petition asking President Bush to support
a strong FCTC. Signing the petition is easy. Simply go to:
 <a href="http://www.tobaccofreekids.org/campaign/global/globalhealth" target="_blank">http://www.tobaccofreekids.org/campaign/global/globalhealth</a>
More Information:
More information about the FCTC and
global tobacco issues can be found on the following websites:
<a href="http://tobaccofreekids.org/global" target="_blank">http://tobaccofreekids.org/global</a>
 Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids
<a href="http://www.fctc.org" target="_blank">http://www.fctc.org</a>
 Framework Convention Alliance (international
coalition of NGOs)
<a href="http://www5.who.int/tobacco/" target="_blank">http://www5.who.int/tobacco/</a>
 World Health Organization
Attending
the Meeting:&nbsp;(from the
Federal Register notice)
"The
public meeting will be held onSeptember
20, 2002, from 9:15 a.m. to5 p.m.
at the Nashville Public Library,615
Church Street, Nashville, TN 37219. Seating
capacity is 125 people. Comments also will be accepted during the public
meeting. Those who wish to attend are encouraged to register early with
the contact person listed below. If you will require a sign language interpreter,
or have other special needs, please notify the contact person by 4:30 E.D.T.
on September 5, 2002. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Zaslow,
Office of Global Health Affairs, 5600 Fishers Lane, Room 18&shy;105, Rockville,
MD 20857, 301&shy;443&shy;1774 (telephone) or 301&shy;443&shy;6822 (facsimile)
or <a href="mailto:FCTC.OGHA@osophs.dhhs.gov">FCTC.OGHA@osophs.dhhs.gov</a>"

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