WHO honour Byrne for fighting harmful effects of tobacco smoke

THE European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection, David Byrne has been honoured by the World Health Organisation for his outstanding work on tobacco control.

The special award was made by Dr Gro Harlem Brundtland, director-general of the WHO on the same day Mr Byrne singed on behalf the EU the WHO’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.

Dr Brundtland paid tribute to Mr Byrne’s work in bringing attention to the dangers of tobacco on health and introducing regulations on its advertising and sale.

He played a leading role in the WHO Framework Convention which is the first international legal agreement designed to fight the harmful effects of tobacco smoking.

Mr Byrne said tobacco control has been a personal and a political priority for him.

“It’s high time we put an end to this needless waste that claims the lives of eight people every minute,” he said.

Mr Byrne has been a driving force behind tough, recent European tobacco control legislation that ban tobacco advertising and regulate tobacco products.

As a result the maximum tar, nicotine and carbon monoxide content for cigarettes will be restricted from January 2004.

Health warnings will cover at least a third of cigarette packs and misleading descriptions such as light or mild will be banned.

He is also targeting passive smoking that up to now has been seen as a non-issue. Estimates show that passive smoking accounts for up to 50,000 deaths a year in the EU.