Parties to the WHO FCTC In the Americas:    21 In the world:         147 WHO FCTC Text

WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC)

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What's new?

Second Conference of the Parties to the WHO FCTC

The Second Conference of the Parties (COP2) to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) will be held from 30 June to 6 July 2007.

In order to participate as a Party from the opening of COP-2, country must ratify at least 90 days before, which is by April 1, 2007. Countries should have deposited their instrument of ratification (or accession) with the United Nations Treaty Section in New York by that date.

More Information

Progress Report for the Conference of the Parties to the WHO FCTC

The Progress Report for the Conference of the Parties to the WHO FCTC provides information on how Parties to the WHO FCTC are progressing in implementing the Convention.

Completion of the progress reports is required under Article 21 – Reporting and Exchange of Information.

In accordance with decision FCTC/COP1(14) of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the WHO FCTC, the interim secretariat developed an interactive, Word-based version of the reporting instrument adopted by the COP in February 2006. This interactive version is designed to facilitate Parties in fulfilling their reporting obligation and is available in all six languages.

Dues dates to present Progress Report per Party

 

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COP Press Release

Countries representing three-quarters of the world’s population meet in Geneva to plan effective implementation of the tobacco control treaty (FCTC).

Geneva, 6 February 2006 - Countries around the world are taking effective measures to curb tobacco use, including strong legislation, graphic warning labels and advertising bans. These positive changes reinforce the commitment made by the more than 110 countries meeting this week to decide on the detailed implementation of the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC).

Many of the countries joining this first Conference of the Parties (COP) in Geneva have already implemented some of the measures in the convention. Ireland, Norway and Spain, for example, have recently banned smoking in indoor public places. India has comprehensive tobacco advertising bans. Australia, Brazil, Canada, Singapore and Thailand print graphic warnings on cigarette packages. These are just some of the examples of efforts which will contribute to a major reduction in tobacco deaths.

"This group has already changed history," said Dr LEE Jong-wook, Director-General of the World Health Organization. "The convention is something that we all committed to. Its provisions are bold. They are based on knowledge of what is effective. We will make it work."

Dr Lee made his comments to the first Conference of the Parties (COP) meeting this week in Geneva. The COP is the governing body of the Treaty. It serves as the authority to oversee, monitor and evaluate progress of the Treaty, in order to reduce tobacco consumption and tobacco-related deaths globally.

Concrete measures included in the Treaty could help save 200 million lives by the year 2050, if a progressive 50% reduction in uptake and consumption rates is achieved.

Many measures in the WHO FCTC have deadlines and clear guidelines. For example, from the Treaty's entry into force, countries have three years to enforce health warnings on tobacco products, and five years to implement comprehensive bans on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship.

Other measures, such as those regarding illicit trade or cross-border advertising, have not yet been detailed in the Treaty. The COP could decide to develop protocols and specific guidelines and requirements for countries to implement these measures.

The COP will likely also consider other measures to ensure the effective implementation of the rest of the treaty provisions. These might include financial support for developing countries, or mechanisms to ensure that countries do not fall behind in their implementation progress.

In February 2007, the first Contracting Parties will submit to the COP initial reports on their progress, specifying what actions they have taken to implement the tobacco control measures established in the Treaty.

“This is a crucial time for people suffering the consequences of tobacco use,” said Dr Yumiko Mochizuki-Kobayashi, Director of the WHO Tobacco Free Initiative. “Tobacco is still the top preventable cause of death. The goal is to see it fall from that position in our lifetime. With continued commitment from Member States, we will achieve that goal."

More facts about the 113 Full Parties at the first Conference of the Parties to the WHO FCTC:
http://www.who.int/tobacco/fctc/cop/en/index.html

For more information please contact Marta Seoane Communications Officer, Tobacco Free Initiative, WHO, Tel: , mobile: +41 79 4755 551, email: seoanem@who.int ; or Marjorie Granjon, technical officer, Tobacco Free Initiative, Tel: +41 22 791 1283, granjonm@who.int

Visit Tobacco Free Initiative website at www.who.int/tobacco

All WHO Media Releases, Fact Sheets and Features as well as other information on this subject can be obtained on Internet on the WHO home page: http://www.who.int/.

 

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What is the WHO FCTC?

The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) is the first international public health treaty negotiated under WHO auspices. The WHO FCTC, which was negotiated over four years and came into force on 27 February 2005, was developed in the recognition that a global strategy was needed to confront a global epidemic that countries cannot address through domestic legislation alone.

The WHO FCTC contains guidelines and requirements for the implementation of the most cost-effective tobacco control measures available. Key provisions that parties to the WHO FCTC will be required to implement include:

• A comprehensive ban on tobacco advertising, sponsorship and promotion to be implemented within five years;
• Strong health warnings on tobacco packaging that cover at least 30% (and ideally 50%) of the principal display areas within three years;
• Protection from secondhand smoke in all indoor workplaces and public places and in public transportation; and
• Measures to reduce the smuggling of tobacco products.

The treaty also addresses a number of other issues, including the disclosure and regulation of ingredients in tobacco products, sale of tobacco products by or to minors, treatment for tobacco addiction, research and exchange of information among countries and promoting public awareness.

The WHO FCTC provides for the convening of the Conference of the Parties (COP), comprised of all parties to the treaty, within a year of its entry into force. The first session of the COP will take place in Geneva on February 6-17, 2006 and will discuss important issues such as treaty financing, the functioning of the Secretariat, requirements for monitoring and reporting, and possible protocols to the treaty. In order to take part in this first session of the COP, countries must have ratified the Convention at least 90 days before the start of the session (November 8, 2005).

To download the text of the treaty, please visit the following link.

 

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Becoming a Party to the WHO FCTC: Ratification, Acceptance, Approval, Formal Confirmation and Accession

The World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) was adopted by the World Health Assembly on May 21, 2003 and was open for signature from June 16, 2003 until June 29, 2004 during which 168 countries signed the treaty. Signature indicates a good faith intention by a country to ratify the WHO FCTC and a political commitment not to undermine the objectives of the treaty. However, signature does not bind countries to the obligations of the WHO FCTC. In order for a country to be legally obligated to implement the provisions of the WHO FCTC countries must become parties to the treaty. They can do so through ratification, acceptance, approval, formal confirmation or accession.

Most countries that have become parties to the WHO FCTC did so through ratification, a legal action indicating a country’s consent to be bound by the terms of the treaty. Acceptance and approval following signature are other processes by which countries can become parties to the WHO FCTC and have the same legal effect as ratification. Formal confirmation is a process open to regional economic integration organizations (for example, the European Union) to become parties to the WHO FCTC and also has the same legal effect as ratification. However, members of an international organization that has become a party do not themselves become parties by virtue of this act.

Ratification (or acceptance, approval or formal confirmation) is an option only for countries that have signed the WHO FCTC. Countries and regional economic integration organizations that have not signed the WHO FCTC can become parties through the one-step process of accession, which has the same legal effect as ratification.

All of these processes require a country’s head of state, head of government or other legally authorized government representative to deposit an instrument of ratification or legal equivalent with the Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN Headquarters in New York), which serves as the Depositary for the Convention. The acceptance by the UN of the deposit of the instrument of ratification – not the approval of ratification at national level -- establishes that a country is a party to the WHO FCTC and thus bound by the treaty’s obligations.

The WHO FCTC entered into force on February 27, 2005, 90 days following November 29, 2004, the date that the Depositary accepted the 40th instrument of ratification or legal equivalent. Therefore, the WHO FCTC entered into force on February 27, 2005 for all countries that became parties to the WHO FCTC on or before November 29, 2004. For all other countries, the WHO FCTC enters into force 90 days following the date they became a party to the treaty.

For more detailed information on these processes please see:

Summary of UN Treaty Handbook adapted for the WHO FCTC

UN Treaty Handbook

UN Treaty Reference Guide

 

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Signatories and Ratifications in the Americas (Last update: 17 May 2006)

 

More information about the process of ratification of the FCTC around the world

Country	Signature Date	Ratification, Acceptance (A), Approval (AA), Formal confirmation(c), Accession (a)
Antigua and Barbuda	28 June 2004	5 June 2006
Argentina	25 September 2003
Bahamas	29 June 2004
Barbados	28 June 2004	3 November 2005
Belize	26 September 2003	15 December 2005
Bolivia	27 February 2004	15 September 2005
Brazil	16 June 2003	3 November 2005
Canada	15 July 2003	26 November 2004
Chile	25 September 2003	13 June 2005
Colombia
Costa Rica	3 July 2003
Cuba	29 June 2004
Dominica	29 June 2004	24 July 2006
Dominican Republic
Ecuador	22 March 2004	25 July 2006
El Salvador	18 March 2004
Grenada	29 June 2004
Guatemala	25 September 2003	16 November 2005
Guyana		15 September 2005 (a)
Haiti	23 July 2003
Honduras	18 June 2004	16 February 2005
Jamaica	24 September 2003	7 July 2005
Mexico	12 August 2003	28 May 2004
Nicaragua	7 June 2004
Panama	26 September 2003	16 August 2004
Paraguay	16 June 2003	26 September 2006
Peru	21 April 2004	30 November 2004
Saint Kitts and Nevis	29 June 2004
Saint Lucia	29 June 2004	7 November 2005
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines	14 June 2004
Suriname	24 June 2004
Trinidad and Tobago	27 August 2003	19 August 2004
United States of America	10 May 2004
Uruguay	19 June 2003	9 September 2004
Venezuela	22 September 2003	27 June 2006

 

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More Information

• Open-ended Intergovernmental Working Group (IGWG)

• WHO Tobacco Free Initiative

• Framework Convention Alliance

 

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