The Citizen - Global Tobacco Treaty takes center stage

JOHANNESBURG - Delegates of 160 countries are meeting this week to negotiate guidelines for a provision in the Global Tobacco Treaty.

This may well determine whether millions around the world get the health protection they are now guaranteed under the treaty.

The negotiations centre on the implementation of Article 5.3, which protects the treaty and related public health policies from tobacco industry interference. At stake is how narrowly or broadly these protections are defined.

If defined broadly, ratifying countries will recognise the tobacco industry’s fundamental conflict with public health, and reject collaboration with tobacco giants like Philip Morris International and British American Tobacco.

If defined narrowly, big tobacco companies could continue to gain influence with governments, and demand a seat at the table when public health policies are being developed.

“Industry interference is the number one obstacle to the implementation and enforcement of the Global Tobacco Treaty,” said Kathy Mulvey of Corporate Accountability International.

The Global Tobacco Treaty took effect in 2005 and now protects more than 85% of the world’s population.

FAIR USE NOTICE  
This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is available without profit for research and educational purposes. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.