Business Day - Experts identify industry as obstacle to health treaty

By Francis Jakpor

Nigeria and representatives of 160 countries currently meeting in Durban, South Africa, have identified the tobacco industry as a barrier to the implementation of the global treaty on tobacco control.

The global tobacco treaty, formally called “Framework Convention on” Tobacco Control (FCTC), took effect in 2005, but has been experiencing implemntation problems.

In a paper presented by Kathy Mulvey, international policy director, Corporate Accountability International, at the conference, she remarked: “Industry interference is the number one obstacle to the implementation and enforcement of the global tobacco treaty.

“Article 5.3 is the linchpin of the treaty, determining whether or not countries will be able to reverse this preventable epidemic without the tobacco industry standing in their way.”

For Akinbode Oluwafemi of Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN), “If we don’t lay out clear terms now about the tobacco industry’s fundamental conflict of interest when it comes to health policymaking, it may cost us everything we have achieved through this treaty in turn.”
 
To prevent abuses reported in several countries, ERA/FoEN and other NATT allies recommend prohibiting government partnership with the tobacco industry and protecting those charged with implementing tobacco policies against conflict of interest, among others.  

“We are optimistic that parties will keep the interests of our children’s health closer to their hearts than those of tobacco transnationals.”
 

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