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One year ago, on 12 November 2012, the Parties to the WHO FCTC adopted the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products in Seoul, Republic of Korea., The Protocol aims at eliminating all forms of illicit trade, such as illegal production or smuggling of tobacco products., It is estimated that about 10% of the global cigarette market is illicit., However, in some countries, more than 50% of the market is illicit., Another incentive for combating illicit trade is the loss in revenue that most governments suffer due to smuggling – it is estimated that if illicit trade were eliminated, governments worldwide could gain at least US$ 30 billion per year in tax revenue., Protocol on illicit trade – the first anniversary of adoption

ILLICIT TOBACCO TRADE IN THE EUROPEAN UNION 2017-2019

The Third session of the Meeting of the Parties to the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products concluded today after taking decisive action to combat illicit trade in tobacco products that harms health and robs national governments of tax revenues that could support public health initiatives., “Our meeting this week took important decisions on tobacco tracking-and-tracing systems and approved a road map to conduct evidence-based research on illicit trade,” said Dr Adriana Blanco Marquizo, who as Head of the Secretariat of WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control also oversees the Protocol., The Meeting of the Parties (MOP) is the governing body of the Protocol, which is an international treaty that entered into force in 2018 aims to eliminate illicit trade in tobacco products through a package of measures to be taken by countries acting in cooperation with one another., Illicit trade accounts for about 11% of total global tobacco trade, and its elimination could increase global tax revenues by an estimated US$ 47.4 billion annually., The Panama Declaration also emphasized the need for effective action to prevent and combat illicit trade in tobacco products, which requires a comprehensive international approach to – and close cooperation on – all aspects of illicit trade in tobacco, tobacco products and tobacco manufacturing equipment., Global meeting to combat illicit tobacco trade concludes with decisive action

Illicit trade in tobacco products continues to undermine tobacco control measures, posing a threat to global public health, security and government revenues., The financial losses incurred by governments due to Illicit trade are substantial, as customs duties and excise taxes on tobacco products are not collected., The United Nations International Computing Centre (UNICC) supports the Secretariat of the WHO FCTC in their work to eliminate illicit trade in tobacco., The Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products represents a global solution to a global problem., Illicit trade, often associated with organized crime, poses a significant challenge to achieving that Goal., Five years on - the value of the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products

The Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products commits countries to establishing, as a central measure, a global tracking and tracing system to reduce the illicit trade of tobacco products., “The elimination of all forms of illicit trade in tobacco products, including smuggling and illegal manufacturing, is an essential component of tobacco control,” says Ambassador Ricardo Varela, President of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the WHO FCTC., Illicit trade in tobacco products is a global problem., “Eradicating illicit trade in tobacco products constitutes a clear win-win situation for governments and their people,” says Dr., The Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products was drafted and negotiated by an Intergovernmental Negotiating Body, mandated to undertake this work by the COP at its second session in 2007., New international protocol adopted to combat illicit trade in tobacco products

The Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products, a critically important new tool to confront the illicit trade, requires 40 Parties to take effect., The Protocol being an important tool to eliminate illicit trade, the Convention Secretariat is calling upon organizations to promote its ratification., Six More Parties Needed for Illicit Trade Protocol Ratification

Following his participation in the high-level segment of the Third session of the Meeting of the Parties (MOP3) to the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products (the Protocol) held in Panama in February 2024, the Minister of Finance of Montenegro requested the support of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Secretariat (WHO FCTC Secretariat) in organizing a high-level ministerial meeting on measures to eliminate illicit trade in tobacco products in the Western Balkans., The recommendations emphasized the importance of licensing, monitoring, surveillance, and legal frameworks to combat illicit tobacco trade., During the opening session of the high-level meeting, the Prime Minister of Montenegro, the Head of the WHO FCTC Secretariat, the Head of the European Union Delegation in Montenegro, and the WHO Regional Director for Europe highlighted illicit tobacco trade's severe economic, security, and public health consequences., They shared experiences and stressed the need for a unified approach to eliminate tobacco tax evasion and illicit trade in tobacco products., Experts from the World Bank, Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, and World Customs Organization provided insights on tobacco tax policy and initiatives to eliminate illicit trade in tobacco products., Technical and High-Level meetings on measures to eliminate illicit trade in tobacco products

The Government of Egypt has taken important steps on its way to becoming a Party to the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products., The meeting, held at the WHO Office for the Eastern Mediterranean Region in Cairo, convened a meeting with representatives from the Ministries of Health, Interior, Foreign Affairs, Justice, Foreign Trade, the Customs Authority, the Organization for Standardization and Quality, the Chemistry Administration, the General Organization for Export and Import Control and the Industrial Development Authority., Dr da Costa e Silva said, “It is good to see Egypt lead the way in thinking through how to address the illicit tobacco trade and preparing to become a Party to the Protocol., Multisectoral approach in Egypt on the illicit tobacco trade

From November 4 to 8, 2024, a comprehensive needs assessment for the implementation of the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products was conducted in Brasília, Brazil., This assessment, organized by the National Commission for the Implementation of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (CONICQ) in collaboration with the Convention Secretariat and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), aimed to intensify efforts to combat the illicit tobacco trade in Brazil., Discussions centered on strengthening actions to mitigate the significant social, financial, and public health impacts of illicit trade in tobacco products in Brazil., Vera Luiza da Costa e Silva, Executive Secretary of CONICQ, emphasized the Brazilian government’s commitment to eradicating illicit trade in tobacco products: “Illicit cigarettes are easily accessible and are sold on the streets to children, teenagers, and low-income populations., Brazil has already made substantial progress in addressing illicit trade in tobacco products., Needs Assessment for the Implementation of the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products in Brazil

A global meeting focused on ending illicit trade in tobacco products opens here today., Illicit trade accounts for about 11% of total global tobacco trade, and its elimination could increase global tax revenues by an estimated US$ 47.4 billion annually., The Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products explained The Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products is the first protocol to the WHO FCTC, and a new international treaty in its own right., It was developed in response to the growing concern regarding illicit trade in tobacco products, which poses a serious threat to public health., Illicit trade increases the accessibility and affordability of tobacco products, thus fuelling the tobacco epidemic and undermining tobacco control policies., Global meeting to combat illicit trade in tobacco products begins in Panama

Illicit trade studies: An example from Mexico

Settings Parties to the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products Secretariat of the WHO FCTC © Credits The new treaty aims at eliminating all forms of illicit trade in tobacco products., It provides tools for preventing illicit trade by securing the supply chain, including by establishing an international tracking and tracing system, by countering illicit trade through dissuasive law enforcement measures and a suite of measures to enable international cooperation., Parties to the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products

On 3 November, Austria deposited its instrument of acceptance of the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products., The Protocol aims at eliminating all forms of illicit trade in tobacco products., It provides tools for preventing and counteracting illicit trade, including a licence for the manufacture, import and export of tobacco products and manufacturing equipment and a tracking and tracing system for all tobacco products that are manufactured in or imported onto its territory., The Convention Secretariat congratulates Austria on becoming the fifth Party to the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products

The Second Meeting of the Parties (MOP2) to the Protocol on Eliminating Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products ended today., Illicit trade in tobacco products dramatically reduces government revenue., The Protocol provides tools for preventing illicit trade by securing the supply chain., The object is to secure the tobacco supply chain and prevent the manufacture and circulation of illicit tobacco products., It is recognised that illicit trade in tobacco products is connected to transnational organized crime, raising income for its activities., Meeting that strengthened implementation of the international treaty on illicit trade in tobacco products

The Convention Secretariat congratulates Uruguay on becoming the second Party to the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products., The Protocol aims at eliminating all forms of illicit trade in tobacco products., It provides tools for preventing and counteracting illicit trade, including a licence for the manufacture, import and export of tobacco products and manufacturing equipment and a tracking and tracing system for all tobacco products that are manufactured in or imported onto its territory., Uruguay becomes second Party to the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products

The three-day session was the first gathering of the Parties to the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products, following the treaty’s entry into force on 25 September., “The illicit tobacco trade jeopardizes both public health and tobacco control efforts., We must act together to fight the illicit tobacco trade with a common framework.”, “We have taken the first steps on a journey to combat the illicit tobacco trade,” said Dr., “Illicit trade accounts for one out of 10 cigarettes consumed., MOP1 concludes after laying the foundation for global cooperation and tobacco tracking system to crack down on illicit tobacco trade

As part of ongoing global efforts to curb the illicit trade in tobacco products, The Gambia recently hosted a Protocol Needs Assessment—a significant initiative supporting the country’s implementation of the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products., These consultations with government departments and non-governmental stakeholders provided critical insights into implementation gaps and led to recommendations to strengthen the Protocol to eliminate illicit trade in tobacco products., The Protocol Needs Assessment builds on these efforts by identifying priority actions—including enhanced enforcement, stronger intersectoral coordination, tighter supply chain control, and international cooperation—and emphasizes the need to introduce dissuasive sanctions and offences to effectively curb illicit trade., The Protocol: a strategic tool The Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products equips Parties with effective tools to: Address illicit trade in tobacco products Safeguard public health Protect national revenues and support economic development By strengthening regulatory systems and improving information sharing across sectors, the Protocol helps governments close the gaps that enable illicit trade to flourish., A step toward sustainable solutions to address illicit trade With sustained collaboration, technical assistance, and strong institutional commitment, The Gambia is well-positioned to enhance its capacity to regulate the tobacco trade and prevent the harms associated with illicit trade—both within its borders and across the region., The Gambia Assesses its needs to strengthen implementation of the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products

This year’s celebration focuses on the elimination of illicit trade in tobacco products., In article 15 of the Convention Parties recognize that the elimination of all forms of illicit trade in tobacco products, including smuggling, illicit manufacturing and counterfeiting are essential components to tobacco control, and the 180 Parties to the Convention are already required to implement a series of measures to control illegal tobacco trade., The Protocol, once it enters into force, will bring new obligations to Parties and will assist them in eliminating all forms of illicit trade in tobacco products, through the use of tools such as licensing the manufacturing, import and export of tobacco products and manufacturing equipment, and establishing a global tracking and tracing regime to assist in the investigation of illicit trade., The process of ratification of the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products has been hindered by tobacco industry interference, which has a stake in perpetuating the current situation., Apart from providing raw leaves and manufactured products to the illegal market, tobacco companies also support illicit trade to enter new markets and test new products., It ought to be law - 32 more ratifications needed to make the illicit trade Protocol an international law

The first Meeting of the Parties (MOP1) to the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products marks a milestone in the implementation of its mother treaty, the WHO Framework Convention for Tobacco Control (FCTC)., The Protocol provides a comprehensive set of tools to fight illicit trade, including establishment of a global monitoring system to track and trace the movement of tobacco products and updates on their legal status., To date, 48 Parties have joined the Protocol, and two-thirds of the Parties have enacted or strengthened national legislation aimed at tackling illicit trade in tobacco products., Illicit trade in tobacco products also fuels organized crime and increases tobacco profits through the evasion of taxes, resulting in substantial losses in government revenue., “Combatting the illicit trade in tobacco products is a global problem that requires international cooperation,” she said., WHO opens first Meeting of Parties to the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products

This week the Second Meeting of the Parties (MOP2) to the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products is convened., The aims of the Protocol are to combat illicit trade in tobacco, which undermines tobacco control policies and public health., Parties to the Protocol have enacted or strengthened national legislation aimed at tackling illicit trade in tobacco products., It is estimated that every year up to 47 billion US dollars is lost globally to illicit trade in tobacco products., Not only does the illicit trade in tobacco products undermine progress being made on taxing tobacco products, but illicit trade is linked to cross-border organized crime and other activities which threaten our security.”, Parties to the global treaty to combat the international illicit trade in tobacco products begin their meeting today