Tobacco Control Convention to Enter Into Force

Washington, DC, February 24, 2005 (PAHO)—An international treaty that binds countries that have ratified it to ban tobacco advertising and promotion and implement other tobacco control policies will enter into force Feb. 27, following its ratification by 57 countries, including seven countries in the Americas.

The World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) enters into force on Sunday, becoming binding international law for its first 40 ratifying countries. The Convention, which aims to save millions of lives now lost to tobacco, is the first global public health treaty negotiated under the auspices of WHO and its Member States.

These provisions of the convention, which are binding for ratifying countries, include a comprehensive ban on tobacco advertising and promotion within five years, health warning labels covering at least 30 percent of the surface of tobacco packages within three years, protection from secondhand tobacco smoke in all indoor public places and workplaces, and guidance to use price and tax increases to reduce tobacco use, among other tobacco control strategies.  Countries that have ratified the convention are called contracting parties and are bound by these and other provisions.

Countries of the Americas participated actively in negotiations and to date seven countries in the region are contracting parties. Mexico, Panama, Trinidad, Uruguay and Canada will be bound by the obligations of the FCTC starting February 27, Peru on Feb. 28, and Honduras on May 17.

The final FCTC text was adopted unanimously by the World Health Assembly in May 2003. By November 29, 2004, 40 countries had become contracting parties to the treaty - the trigger which brings it into force 90 days later. Since then, 17 additional countries ratified it, making it one of the most rapidly embraced UN treaties in history.

Tobacco use and exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke are estimated to kill at least one million people in the Americas every year, according to experts at the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), which works actively with governments and civil society to build capacity to implement effective tobacco control policies.

PAHO, founded in 1902, works with all the countries of the Americas to improve the health and raise the quality of life of their peoples. It also serves as the Regional Office for the Americas of WHO.

For more information please contact , PAHO, Public Information, 202-974-3459.