Global anti-smoking treaty marks its first day with 28 signatures

A TOTAL of 28 countries from around the world, plus the European Commission, lined up yesterday to endorse a landmark global anti-smoking treaty on the first day it was open for signature.

Officials behind the pact, which emerged in March after four years of hard negotiations at the World Health Organisation (WHO), said commitment appeared to be so high the pact could be in force by the end of the year.

"I urge countries throughout the world to follow the example of those here today to swiftly sign and then ratify this treaty," said WHO Director-General Gro Harlem Brundtland.