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 Protocols, Guidelines and Study Groups Illicit Trade Protocol A protocol is a treaty negotiated under another treaty. For example, the Kyoto Protocol is a sub-agreement to the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change. Parties to the global tobacco treaty have initiated negotiations on the treaty’s first protocol, to address the illicit trade in tobacco products. According to the Framework Convention Alliance (FCA), illicit trade represents approximately 10 percent of global tobacco sales, and costs governments between U.S. $40 and $50 billion annually in lost revenue. There is widespread evidence that tobacco transnationals have benefited from—and even been complicit in—illicit trade in tobacco. Smuggling and other forms of illicit trade can open up new markets for brands like Philip Morris International’s Marlboro, BAT’s Dunhill and JT’s Mild Seven, and addict new customers with lower-priced tobacco products that have evaded taxes. In the case of the FCTC, only parties to the treaty itself can be parties to a protocol. That means that the U.S. and other non-parties can only attend these negotiations as observers. For more information on the negotiations toward an illicit trade protocol to the global tobacco treaty, click here. Guidelines
In July 2007, the first set of guidelines—on protection from exposure to tobacco smoke—was adopted Parties are now developing guidelines on:
Study Groups Parties to the global tobacco treaty have also established a study group to explore economically sustainable alternatives to tobacco growing. Though transnational tobacco corporations use sophisticated public relations machinery to claim that tobacco-related agriculture creates jobs and boosts economic development, the facts speak otherwise. Tobacco giants exert broad control over the tobacco production system, and have created a supply system that exploits farmers while assuring continued growth in corporate profits. Even the World Bank, which favors market liberalization, has concluded that comprehensive tobacco control policies are good for the global economy.
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Global Tobacco Treaty Action Guide 2008 See a map of the status of the Global Tobacco Treaty Resources for Governments Illicit Trade Protocol Corporate Accountability International and NATT factsheet: Documentation of negotiating sessions Template for the protocol, April 2007 Chair’s text of the protocol, August 2008 Guidelines Report on Articles 11, 12 and 13, April 2007 Report on Article 9, April 2007 Study groups Economically sustainable alternatives to tobacco growing, July 2007 Report of study group on alternative crops, May 2007 World Bank report Curbing the Epidemic, 1999
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Countries that have ratified the global tobacco treaty (known as Parties) are developing specific guidelines on how the treaty’s obligations should be implemented.
