UN launches smoking treaty

A GLOBAL treaty aimed at dissuading children from smoking and helping adults kick the habit came into force yesterday with the United Nations saying it could save millions of lives.

However, the United States has not yet ratified the treaty and some campaigners fear it may seek to dilute the treaty’s effectiveness to protect the interests of big tobacco firms.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) applauded the strong warnings on cigarette packages and the eventual ban on tobacco advertising and sponsorship laid down in the world’s first international public health treaty.

“It’s entry into force is a demonstration of governments’ commitment to reduce death and illness from tobacco use,” said WHO director general Lee Jong-wook in a statement to mark the event.

Tobacco, the second leading cause of preventable deaths globally after hypertension, kills 4.9 million people a year, the UN agency says.

And the annual death toll from tobacco-related diseases - lung cancer, heart attacks and cardiovascular diseases - could soar to 10 million by 2020, with 70% of the deaths in developing countries, it adds.

The treaty, known as the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, gives members three years to slap strong health warnings on tobacco packages and five years to ban advertising, promotion and sponsorship.

It also recommends tax increases on tobacco products, a crackdown on smuggling, and reducing exposure to second-hand smoke.

Approved by the WHO’s 192 member states in May 2003, the pact became law yesterday, 90 days after the 40th state had ratified it.

It will only carry legal weight in those countries which have ratified it, now numbering 57.

WHO officials and activists say the powerful tobacco industry is lobbying intensively to restrict the number of countries applying the treaty, including the United States which has signed up but not yet sent it to the Senate.