Furthering Mr. Oliver's thoughtful post:
"In this case, the WHO FCTC allows for countries to exceed its prescribed interventions (for example, instead of just graphic health warnings, a country can go for standardized packaging); the WHO FCTC only represents the basic minimum required of tobacco control interventions."
I'd like to draw attention to FCTC Article 2.1:
"In order to better protect human health, Parties are encouraged to implement measures beyond those required by this Convention and its protocols, and nothing in these instruments shall prevent a Party from imposing stricter requirements that are consistent with their provisions and are in accordance with international law."
We call this the "tobacco endgame" article. Every two years, the Parties to the FCTC meet at the Conference of the Parties (COP). In November, the 10th COP will meet in Panama, and for the first time, Article 2.1 is on the agenda for discussion. We have the opportunity to push the world to think beyond simply convincing people not to smoke to targeting the tobacco industry and ending commercial tobacco sales.
Chris Bostic, Policy Director
ASH (Action on Smoking and Health)
Dedicated to ZERO Tobacco Deaths
1250 Connecticut Ave, NW, 7th floor
Washington, DC 20036
Tel: +1 202.659.4310
Mobile: +1 202 413 0069
www.ash.org
HIFA Profile: Chris Bostic is Action on Smoking and Health’s Policy Director. Since 2001, Chris has worked in tobacco policy at the local, state, national and international levels. Prior to joining ASH, he worked at the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids and the American Lung Association. He has also served as a public health law clinical instructor at the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law and was a founding board member of the Human Rights and Tobacco Control Network (HRTCN).
Email: bosticc AT ash.org
