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for World No Tobacco
Day 2004

PAHO Director congratulates Mexico on ratification of tobacco agreement

Washington, DC, June 03, 2004 (PAHO)—Dr. Mirta Roses, director of the Pan American Health Organization, today congratulated Mexico on its ratification of the Framework Convention for Tobacco Control.

"We salute the strong commitment of the Secretary of Health of Mexico, who has developed a successful strategy that led to this action. All sectors of society were sensitized to move this historic decision, raising the importance of public health above any other interest," said Dr. Roses.

Mexico was the first country in the Americas to ratify the framework convention, and the 17th in the world. The convention is the first global treaty on a public health topic and the first legal instrument designed to reduce death and diseases from tobacco throughout the world.

"We urge the other countries of the Americas to ratify the agreement," Dr. Roses added.

Among its many measures, the treaty requires countries to impose restrictions on tobacco advertising, sponsorship and promotion; establish new packaging and labeling of tobacco products; establish clean indoor air controls; and strengthen legislation to clamp down on tobacco smuggling.

To date, 119 countries have signed the agreement and 17 countries have ratified it. For the treaty to take effect, 40 countries must ratify it. The treaty was opened for signature last June at WHO headquarters in Geneva, and is open for signature through June 29 2004 at the United Nations in New York. After that date, countries can still become parties to the WHO FCTC by means of accession.

In Mexico, the national commemorative act for World No-Tobacco Day was led by President Vicente Fox, Secretary of Health Dr. Julio Frenk Mora, and Senator Ernesto Gil Elordoy. Dr. Joaquín Molina, acting PAHO/WHO representative in Mexico, transmitted congratulations from Dr. Roses and from the Director of WHO, Dr. Lee Jong Wook, to the President and other Mexican officials for the ratification.

World No Tobacco Day this year highlights tobacco and poverty, stressing the enormous economic costs of tobacco use and cultivation to families, communities and countries. The slogan 'a vicious circle' explains the inextricable link that exists between tobacco and poverty, and how the use of tobacco, especially by poorer people who consume this product the most, can cause harmful consequences to their already precarious economies and income.

PAHO, established in 1902, works with all the countries of the Americas to improve the health and quality of life of of their peoples. The oldest public health organization in the world, PAHO also serves as the Regional Office for the Americas of the World Health Organization.