[e-drug] WHO chief endorses diluted anti tobacco text

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E-drug: WHO chief endorses diluted anti tobacco text
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Lancet Volume 361, Number 9354     25 January 2003
http://www.thelancet.com/journal/vol/iss/full/llan.361.9354.news.24259.1

Medicine and health policy
[Copied as fair use. BS]

Critics are  concerned that the revised draft of WHO's tobacco treaty 
is feeble and meaningless

WHO issued a revised draft of its Framework Convention on Tobacco 
Control (FCTC) on Jan  15 amid considerable surprise and dismay at 
the dilution of key provisions.

As expected, the text stops short of an outright ban on advertising 
because of constitutional  concerns of the USA. But it also drops 
earlier language requiring the phasing out of sponsorship of sports 
and cultural events--widely regarded as a ploy by tobacco companies 
to  hook young smokers--and of vending machine sales.

The text, which contains new provisions on packaging and smuggling 
and introduces the concept of manufacturer liability, will be 
discussed at a final round of negotiations on Feb 17-28  before 
scheduled adoption by the World Health Assembly in May.
Anti-tobacco campaigners slammed the proposals for appeasing the USA, 
Japan, and Germany--the main opponents to a tough FCTC--rather than 
reflecting the views of the majority  of countries, which pressed for 
strong language at the last round of talks in October.

ASH UK said the new text was a "feeble response to the world's worst 
public health problem".  But negotiating chairman Luiz Felipe de 
Seixas Correa said he hoped that his gradual approach would persuade 
the maximum number of countries to sign up. This would be more 
effective than a "strong text" which was inacceptable to key 
countries, he argued.
"The task of the negotiations is to bridge the gap between what is 
desirable and what is  possible", he told journalists, stressing that 
countries that wanted to introduce sweeping  restrictions could do so.

Despite her impassioned appeals at the October meeting for an 
outright advertising ban as part  of a convention with real teeth, 
WHO Director-General Gro Harlem Brundtland gave her  unqualified 
support to the watered-down proposals.
"I fully endorse the revised chairman's text", she declared--causing 
bewilderment among  proponents of tough controls. "I believe that 
member states should consider this as the final draft on the basis of 
which they will be able to conclude the negotiations", she continued.
"The framework convention will be an important tool in the fight 
against cancers, heart disease,  and emphysema", she said, adding 
that it should be strengthened by additional protocols on,  for 
instance, illicit trade and advertising.

The draft text commits each signatory to take measures to "restrict 
tobacco advertising,  promotion, and sponsorship in accordance with 
its national constitution".   "Such measures may include a 
comprehensive ban on all tobacco advertising, promotion, and 
sponsorship", it states.
It deletes earlier provisions to phase out all cross-border 
advertising, stating that countries  could take such action if they 
wish.  It introduces a new requirement for health warnings to take up 
at least 30% of a cigarette  packet, stipulating that labelling 
should not be misleading or create "the false impression that a 
particular tobacco product is less harmful than other tobacco 
products".   "These may include low-tar, light, ultra-light, or 
mild", it says--but steps back from an explicit  ban on such terms 
contained in the previous text.

The text is cautious on litigation, stating that governments should 
"consider taking legislative action and making use of or promoting 
their existing laws to deal with liability and compensation  for the 
purpose of tobacco control".
After prolonged debate on whether health or free trade considerations 
should be given priority  in international legal disputes, de Seixas 
Correa decided to delete all reference to trade, saying  it was too 
complicated.

"At the last round of talks, the vast majority of countries wanted to 
see health prioritised over  trade", complained Kathryn Mulvey, 
executive director of the US campaign group Infact.   "The new text 
in no way reflects the momentum toward a stronger treaty at the last 
round of talks. It's almost meaningless--basically a set of 
suggestions essentially deferring action", she said.   "Philip Morris 
will be performing cartwheels at the advertising provisions", she 
said drily.

  Clare Kapp
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