FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
November 30, 2004

CONTACTS:
Patti Lynn/Corporate Accountability International 617.695.2525
David Lerner/Riptide Communications 212-260-5000

Boston--The Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), the world's first public health and corporate accountability treaty, has been ratified by 40 countries and is now set to take effect. According to its implementing provisions, the treaty becomes binding international law after the 40th country ratifies. The landmark was reached when Peru ratified the treaty today.

"This is a tremendous victory for corporate accountability and public health that will undoubtedly save millions of lives," says Kathryn Mulvey, Executive Director of the US-based Corporate Accountability International. "This treaty demonstrates that working together, the nations of the world and their NGO allies can limit the influence of giant corporations. Attempts by Philip Morris/Altria and the rest of the tobacco industry to prevent an effective treaty from entering into force have proved futile."

In May 2004, the US government signed the FCTC, a move that was met with skepticism. Throughout the FCTC negotiating process, the US government consistently took positions to weaken the treaty at the expense of people's lives in the US and around the world. To date the US has not ratified the FCTC, not surprising treaty advocates who point out that the US has signed but not ratified the following treaties: the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Kyoto Protocol, the International Criminal Court, and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women.

"At this historic moment, Corporate Accountability International is calling on the US government to reverse direction and ratify the global tobacco treaty," says Mulvey. Senator Richard Lugar (IN) is Chair of the Foreign Relations Committee, the only Congressional committee with the responsibility to review treaties.

The FCTC bans tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship, and protects public health policy from tobacco industry interference. It also sets precedents for international regulation of other industries that threaten health, the environment and human rights.

Corporate Accountability International and other members of the Network for Accountability of Tobacco Transnationals (NATT) continue to urge governments to keep the tobacco industry out of the ongoing FCTC ratification process and the treaty's subsequent implementation, to ensure participation of NGOs, and to provide full funding of the FCTC. Earlier this month, the Consumer Information Network, a NATT member in Kenya, helped expose British American Tobacco's (BAT) sponsorship of a beach holiday for members of Parliament. BAT lobbied the parliamentarians to oppose the Tobacco Control Bill currently under consideration in Kenya, which has ratified the FCTC.

"This is a historic moment in the movement challenging irresponsible and dangerous corporate actions around the world. Now that this global treaty has become international law, it is no longer business as usual for Big Tobacco. With millions of lives at stake, we urge countries that have not yet ratified to do so without delay, particularly those that took the lead during treaty negotiations," says Akinbode Oluwafemi of Environmental Rights Action, Nigeria.

Since FCTC negotiations began, global tobacco corporations have attempted to water down and delay the treaty from the beginning of the process. According to Philip Morris/Altria's internal documents, the tobacco giant received advice from the notorious public relations firm Mongoven, Biscoe and Duchin that "a comprehensive strategy to influence the...UN/WHO policies would be enhanced significantly by establishing an NGO..." Documents show Philip Morris/Altria profiled regions to determine those countries that would support the Convention, and also be susceptible to industry influence. Philip Morris/Altria also opposed central provisions of the treaty, including the ban on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship.

The 40 countries that ratified the FCTC are: Armenia, Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Cook Islands, Fiji, France, Ghana, Hungary, Iceland, India, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Madagascar, Maldives, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nauru, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Peru, Qatar, San Marino, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, and Uruguay. More ratifications are expected to follow in the next few weeks.

QUOTES FOR FCTC 40 RATIFICATIONS

"Quite simply, this treaty has the potential to save over 10 million lives per year--and many of those are the lives of Africa's children. The 40th ratification is a historic milestone. We must now work to ensure that the countries of Africa, which led the way through the negotiations, ratify and implement the FCTC as quickly as possible. In the process, we will cut many target markets for the global tobacco industry, and hopefully, turn the tide on the spread of entirely preventable disease and death on the African continent."
--Patricia Lambert, FCTC Negotiator, Government of South Africa

"Now that this global treaty has become international law, it is no longer business as usual for Big Tobacco. But with millions of lives at stake, we urge countries that have not yet ratified to do so without delay, particularly those that took the lead during treaty negotiations."
--Akinbode Olwafemi, Environmental Rights Action, Nigeria

"This is a historic moment in the corporate accountability movement challenging irresponsible and dangerous corporate actions around the world, especially in poor and developing countries. The FCTC will change the way Big Tobacco can operate on the Indian sub-continent, protecting the health and lives of our one billion people with more than 20 percent earning less than a dollar a day."
--Bejon Misra, ConsumerVOICE, India

"The general public is dangerously misled when tobacco companies use junk science to distort the facts about their deadly product, and their lobbyists are allowed to meddle in public health policy. As more countries in Eastern Europe ratify this global treaty, our citizens will become better informed, and tobacco corporations like Philip Morris/Altria will see their expansion in these markets curbed. The vital result of this will be a reduction in the spread of tobacco-related disease and death."
--Lewis Akenji, Association of Conscious Consumers, Hungary

"This is a great day. Philip Morris/Altria and other tobacco giants have been working aggressively to expand their markets in many Latin American countries, with terrible consequences for both the health and economic well-being of our people. As more countries follow the lead of Panama, Mexico and Uruguay and ratify this treaty, we will move toward a healthier, safer future for our children."
--Yul Francisco Dorado, Consumers International, Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean

"I am proud to say that the countries of Africa led the way toward a strong, enforceable tobacco treaty. The implementation of this treaty will save lives in Kenya and across the continent. But tobacco corporations like British American Tobacco continue to use dirty tricks to try to derail the treaty, and other governments must follow Kenya's lead and ratify the treaty quickly."
--Sam Ochieng, Consumers Information Network, Kenya

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Corporate Accountability International, formerly Infact, is a membership organization that protects people by waging and winning campaigns challenging irresponsible and dangerous corporate actions around the world. Through bold campaigns and a commitment to win, Corporate Accountability International and its members have scored major victories that protect people and save lives. For over 25 years, we've forced corporations--like Nestlé, General Electric and Philip Morris/Altria--to stop abusive actions. For more information visit www.stopcorporateabuse.org.

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