The Framework Convention on

Tobacco Control

Mamadou Bamba Sagna

Tobacco Control Expert
ACBF
 Outline
• What is the WHO FCTC?
• Overview of obligations
• Role of the Conference of the Parties
• Implementation guidelines
• The Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco
Products
TOBACCO USE IS THE LEADING PREVENTABLE CAUSE OF
DEATH IN THE WORLD
 WHO FCTC

The WHO FCTC is the World Health Organization’s Framework

Convention on Tobacco Control
 It is also known as the “FCTC,” “Treaty,” “Framework
Convention,” or the “Convention”

Parties (currently 180): countries bound to follow the provisions of the

Treaty

Member states (currently 193): countries that are members of the

World Health Organization

Entered into force on 27th February 2005

 WHO FCTC
The obligation on parties to implement the Treaty in good faith

The WHO FCTC sets a floor, not a ceiling

 “… Parties are encouraged to implement measures beyond
those required by this Convention and its protocols …”
— FCTC Article 2

“Effective” means evidence based

 “… effective legislative, executive, administrative or other
measures should be contemplated …”
— FCTC Article 4

“In accordance with national law"

 Overview of FCTC
The Convention is divided into sections:
• Articles 3-5 establish the objective, guiding
principles and general obligations engendered by
the treaty;
• Articles 6 to 14: demand-side reduction measures;
• Articles 15-17: supply-side reduction measures;
 Objective of the FCTC
Overall objective of the FCTC:
 “To protect present and future generations from the
devastating health, social, environmental and
economic consequences of tobacco consumption and
exposure to tobacco smoke … to reduce continually
and substantially the prevalence of tobacco use and
exposure to tobacco smoke.”
— FCTC Article 3
 General Obligations
Article 5: establishes the basic obligations of parties
under the Convention to advance tobacco control
efforts through national action and international
obligations.

Article 5.3: requires parties to undertake measures to

protect tobacco control policies from the interests of
the tobacco industry, including the adoption of new
legislation when necessary.
 Reduces demand:
Articles 6–14
• Parties agree to undertake a range of demand reduction and
supply reduction measures including in relation to:
• Taxation (art.6);
• Protection from exposure to tobacco smoke (art.8);
• Tobacco product disclosures (art.9);
• Regulation of contents and emissions (art.10);
• Packaging and labeling (art.11);
• Education, communication, training and public awareness
(art.12);
• Tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship (art.13);
• Cessation (art. 14)
 Reduces supply:
Articles 15–17
• Illicit trade (art. 15);
• Sales to and by minors (art.16);
• Provision of support for economically viable
alternative activities (art.17)
 Role of the Conference of the
Parties
Intergovernmental
• Setting of standards
• –implementation guidelines, declarations
• Building and dissemination of knowledge
• –the processes themselves
• –the work commissioned, the reports produced
• Monitoring of implementation
• –consideration of Parties’ reports
• –Secretariat’s Global Progress Reports
 Role of the Conference of the
Parties

• Facilitation of international cooperation

• –coming together at COPs and at intersessional
meetings
• –cooperation between international organizations
• Mobilisation of resources (of all kinds) to support
implementation
 Implementation guidelines adopted
• Guidelines on protection against tobacco industry
influence (Article 5.3)
• Guidelines on taxation (Article 6)
• Guidelines on protection against exposure to
tobacco smoke (Article 8)
• Partial guidelines on product disclosure and
regulation (Articles 9 and 10)
• guidelines on packaging and labelling (Article 11)
 Implementation guidelines adopted
• Guidelines on education, training, communication
and public awareness (Article 12);
• Guidelines on advertising, promotion and
sponsorship Article (13);
• Guidelines on cessation (Article 14)
 The Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade
in Tobacco Products
 First Protocol to the WHO FCTC;
 Adopted in November 2012 in Seoul by the Conference of
the Parties to the WHO FCTC;
 New international treaty – ratification and implementation
will require involvement of various government sectors,
including public health, customs, law enforcement and
justice;
 Parties to the protocol: 9 (among them 2 African countries
(Congo and Gabon).
THE MANY FACES OF THE TOBACCO INDUSTRY
• TOBACCO INDUSTRY FUNDED • STATE-OWNED, NATIONAL
TOBACCO GROWERS AND MULTINATIONAL
ASSOCIATIONS TOBACCO COMPANIES
• ALLIED AND THIRD PARTY • SUBSIDIARIES AND
INDUSTRY (E.G PESTICIDES REPRESENTATIVES
AND OTHER INPUTS)
• LEAF BUYING AND
PROCESSING

growing manufacture

• RETAILERS selling distributing

• DUTY FREE RETAILS
• ALLIED AND THIRD-PARTY • DISTRIBUTORS
INDUSTRIES (E.G ADVERTISING • IMPORTERS
AND HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY) • EXPORTERS
• SMOKERS RIGHT ASSOCIATIONS • DUTY FREE DISTRIBUTORS
FORMS OF TOBACCO INDUSTRY INTERFERENCE
IN TOBACCO CONTROL POLICY MAKING

Maneuvering Exaggerating Manipulatin Fabricating Discrediting Intimidating

to hijack the the g public support proven government
political and economic opinion to through science s with
legislative importance gain the front groups litigation or
process of the appearance the threat of
industry of litigation
respectabilit
y
THANK YOU ! MERCI !