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The Secretariat of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) is joining public health champions around the world on World No Tobacco Day 2023 to advocate for an end to the waste of productive land for tobacco farming and its replacement with sustainable crops., World No Tobacco Day 2023 will also support efforts to combat desertification and environmental degradation by working to reduce tobacco farming, and it will expose tobacco industry activity obstructing sustainable livelihoods., Tobacco is often called a cash crop, but whatever money it generates does not find its way to farmers., Those who work small, family farms in low- and middle-income countries, in which large tracts of tobacco-growing land are found, are generally poor., While the amount of land devoted to tobacco cultivation fell by 16% worldwide in the 18 years following the WHO FCTC’s introduction in 2005, it has greatly increased in Africa., Grow Food, Not Tobacco – 2023 World No Tobacco Day Campaign

Dr Adriana Blanco Marquizo, Head of Secretariat of the WHO FCTC was the moderator and opened the event by thanking the Secretariat of the ECOSOC for providing this opportunity at this important forum., Amar Ramadhin, Minister of Health, Suriname said, “In the wake of COVID-19, the world needs a win-win solution for public health outcomes and domestic resource mobilization., Reducing tobacco consumption will improve COVID-19 responses and likewise controlling COVID-19 will allow us to continue progressing on all fronts of sustainable development”., “Whilst the fight on COVID-19 continues, we must make sure that we build back healthier populations that will be more resilient to future threats., And that is why we must include prevention at the very core of what we do and that includes tobacco control at the heart of our health systems and health policies,” stated Ms., Target 3.a of the Sustainable Development Goals on WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control: Key to recovery from COVID-19 and building back better

This period covers most of the time range, during which the WHO FCTC has been enforced (the Convention entered into force in February 2005)., The impact assessment exercise also identified major obstacles Parties encounter when implementing the WHO FCTC ., Research consistently shows that tobacco control measures implemented by Parties are most effective when they align with comprehensive implementation of the WHO FCTC and its Guidelines., The fact that implementation of the WHO FCTC is also part of the sustainable development framework as SDG target 3.a (Strengthen the implementation of the WHO FCTC in all countries, as appropriate) provides a unique opportunity to integrate WHO FCTC implementation with every effort targeted at reaching all other sustainable development goals., For more information please contact:Ms Mitchel LaraCommunications web officer Contact: mediafctc@who.int, The special supplement of Tobacco Control Journal on the WHO FCTC impact assessment now published

UN-led tobacco control advocates denounce ‘increasingly vicious’ industry interference UN-backed treaty against illicit tobacco trade set to take effect in September18 July 2018 Combat against devastating effects of tobacco can only be won ‘if the UN stands united’ – UN health official22 August 2018 Tobacco control, a ‘major component’ of environmental protection efforts – UN health official4 September 2018, Articles written by UN News in collaboration with the Secretariat of the WHO FCTC

The Eighth session of the Conference of the Parties (COP8) to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) is less than three months away., Taking place in Geneva from 1 to 6 October, it will focus on topics such as the shaping of a medium-term strategic framework, which will determine the actions to be taken by the Parties over the next five years, and the advances and challenges revealed in the Global Progress Report on Implementation of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control., The Conference will also be the starting point for a wider application of the WHO FCTC not only for tobacco control, but also as an international treaty to support sustainable development, fight climate change and defend human rights., Furthermore, Parties have engaged in promoting sustainability what has prompted UN member states to include the WHO FCTC as a target in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development., Finally, with COP8 followed by MOP1 nearing, related documents for Party delegates will be published, and a dedicated web page is now available with a software application soon becoming available., COP8 is coming up, with important progress to report

The Government of Chad, through its Ministry of Public Health, invited the Secretariat of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) to jointly conduct a needs assessment in order to identify current and future challenges and requirements to the implementation of the WHO FCTC., Chad has already made very good progress as for example with regards to Article 11 by implementing strong, state of the art pictorial health warnings on cigarette packs on 70% of both main sides., The mission was also the opportunity for Chad to launch the FCTC 2030 Project for which it was selected., The project aims at supporting low- and middle income Parties to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by implementing the WHO FCTC., In 2010, Chad adopted a tobacco control law, proving its willingness to curb the tobacco epidemic., Needs Assessment mission in Chad: a leader in pictorial health warnings

The Government of Andorra is showing great interest for the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) and invited the Head of the Convention Secretariat Dr Vera da Costa e Silva to talk about the Convention, the Protocol and the adhesion process., Andorra has had little national tobacco control legislation with a high smoking prevalence of 38.2% of male smokers and 29% of female smokers, according to the WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic of 2017., WHO FCTC Secretariat Tobacco products advertisement, promotion and sponsorship are not subject to regulation as was taxation for many years., The Convention Secretariat is enthusiastic at the idea of working with Andorra to implement the WHO FCTC and the Protocol., New tobacco control policies and programmes would greatly benefit the citizens of Andorra as well as the more regulated bordering countries., Andorra making a step forward to WHO FCTC and Protocol ratification

From 12 June to 14 June, the Secretariat organized a Global Meeting in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the World Health Organization (WHO) in order to discuss the implementation of Art 17 and 18 which are focusing respectively on economically viable alternative activities for tobacco workers, growers and individual sellers, and the protection of the environment and the health of persons working in tobacco cultivation and manufacture., Tobacco grower shares her testimony at the articles 17 and 18 implementation global meeting WHO FCTC Secretariat The goals of this Global Meeting were firstly to increase awareness of the need to implement Art 17 and 18, share success stories, use existing policy recommendations and identify main gaps and obstacles., The Parties and UN organization representatives then discussed modeling tools to estimate economic outcomes when shifting from tobacco farming to alternative livelihoods., In order to assist in the implementation, a shared vision of a medium long term plan was developed by all the participants., Over 60 representatives from Ministries of Health, Agriculture, Industry/Trade, Finance, Foreign Affairs and Environment from 12 selected tobacco growing countries Parties, and representatives of UN agencies such as FAO, ILO, WHO, UNDP, and UNICEF from Head Quarters and Regional Offices were present at the meeting., Global Meeting on the implementation of Article 17 and 18 in collaboration with FAO, UNDP and WHO

Dr Vera Luiza da Costa e Silva warned that, “While recognising the important contributions so many of you are making in research and treatment of lung cancer, we neglect at our peril the considerable efforts being made elsewhere by representatives of the tobacco industry., Right now, they employ strategies to sell even more of their regular products around the world while introducing in the market new products such as water pipes and electronic nicotine delivery systems.”, The event is the 17th World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC) and was held in Vienna., Another speaker at the event was Tabaré Vázquez, President of Uruguay., He highlighted how the Government of Uruguay won its case in an investor-state dispute brought against it because of its tobacco control policies and settled by the World Bank's International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes., Dr Vera Luiza da Costa e Silva addresses the 17th World Conference on Lung Cancer

Parties to the Convention, meeting in Delhi, adopted decisions which enhance implementation of areas linked to development, human rights as well as public health., The decisions reached by the Parties in India will address the consequences of the on-going tobacco epidemic which, if unchecked, will kill about 1 billion people in the 21st Century., By 2030, over 80 percent of the world’s tobacco-related mortality will be in low- and- middle income countries., Parties will report, through the Convention Secretariat, working in conjunction with WHO, on efforts to set national tobacco use reduction targets in line with the global voluntary NCD targets and to report on their progress in tobacco use reduction., The Impact Assessment report, presented to COP7, reveals how implementation of the WHO FCTC is gaining force around the world., Decisions at COP7 advance implementation of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control

Settings Notice of Assessment by WHO FCTC Parties 2022-2023 10 December 2021 Afghanistan WHO FCTC 22-23 Afghanistan WHO FCTC 22-23 12 December 2021 Albania WHO FCTC 22-23 Albania WHO FCTC 22-23 9 February 2022 Algeria WHO FCTC 22-23 Algeria WHO FCTC 22-23 20 January 2022 Andorra WHO FCTC 22-23 Andorra WHO FCTC 22-23 12 December 2021 Angola WHO FCTC 22-23 Angola WHO FCTC 22-23 12 December 2021 Antigua and Barbuda WHO FCTC 22-23 Antigua and Barbuda WHO FCTC 22-23 12 December 2021 Armenia WHO FCTC 22-23 Armenia WHO FCTC 22-23 12 December 2021 Australia WHO FCTC 22-23 Australia WHO FCTC 22-23 12 December, Notice of Assessment by Parties to the WHO FCTC for the Biennium 2022-2023

The MTSF, also known as the Global Strategy to Accelerate Tobacco Control, aims to strengthen implementation of the FCTC, with a roadmap to guide the work of the Parties, the Convention Secretariat and other stakeholders with regards to tobacco control from 2019 to 2025., Vera Luiza da Costa e Silva, head of the WHO FCTC Secretariat., State Party delegate with valid credentials 2., State non-Party delegate with valid credentials 3., IGO or NGO observer to COP with valid credentials 4., Eighth session of the Conference of the Parties to the WHO FCTC

The 20-year anniversary of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) was the theme of the special side event during a UN High-Level Meeting on Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) and Mental Health held in New York this week., "The WHO FCTC is a powerful example of what is possible when the global community unites in combatting the global tobacco epidemic" said Andrew Black, Team Lead, Direct Assistance to Parties, Secretariat of the WHO FCTC., Speakers discussed how successful measures in line with the WHO FCTC, such as tobacco taxation, offer valuable lessons for tackling other risk factors for NCDs., The event concluded with a call to action from Leslie Rae Ferat, Executive Director, Global Alliance for Tobacco Control (GATC) who underscored the urgency of building on the WHO FCTC's success., "Civil society has been central to the progress of the WHO FCTC, but with COP11 ahead and NCDs still driving the global health burden, much more remains to be done., UN event celebrates 20 Years of the WHO FCTC in driving global action on NCDs

The Secretariat of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) is alerting governments and the public that the tobacco industry is intensifying efforts to interfere with the work of the Conference of the Parties (COP), the treaty’s decision-making body, to weaken global tobacco control measures., The WHO FCTC is the first treaty negotiated under the auspices of WHO and one of the most widely and rapidly embraced United Nations treaties in history., The Eleventh session of the COP, which will be held from 17-22 November in Geneva, Switzerland, will bring together Parties to the Convention to take the decisions necessary to work towards achieving the objectives of the WHO FCTC, including the discussion of measures to prevent nicotine addiction, and for the protection of the environment and human health, among others., UN accredited journalists who wish to attend the COP and MOP in person are kindly encouraged to notify the Secretariat of the WHO FCTC regarding their attendance to mediafctc@who.int., In line with current United Nations policies for media accreditation to the World Health Assembly, and in accordance with COP and MOP decisions FCTC/COP8(12) and FC TC/MOP1(15)., Tobacco industry targets WHO FCTC COP and MOP negotiations, Parties urged to stay vigilant

The Eleventh session of the Conference of the Parties to the WHO FCTC has concluded with a series of critical decisions on global tobacco control., "The WHO FCTC stands as a milestone for public health and international cooperation, and we thank the Parties who contributed their time and energy towards strengthening these life saving measures.", The issue of liability under Article 19 of the WHO FCTC which calls for Parties to consider taking legislative action to deal with criminal and civil liability related to tobacco control was also discussed and a key decision was passed inviting Parties to consider strengthening the implementation of this Article of the Convention, through increasing cooperation between Parties while reaffirming that issues relating to liability are an important part of comprehensive tobacco control., A record number of registrations were received for the COP with more than 1,600 delegates signed up for the conference., Notes to editors The WHO FCTC is the first ever public health treaty negotiated under the auspices of WHO with 183 Parties to the Convention covering 90% of the global population., Global tobacco control conference concludes with decisions on environment, liability

The Secretariat of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) convened a strategic and successful side event titled “Parliamentary engagement: Strengthening collaboration on tobacco control and beyond”, on the margins of the 151st Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly., Participants actively exchanged experiences and ideas on advancing tobacco control measures and integrating them within broader health and sustainable development agendas., The document aims to dispel common myths propagated by the tobacco industry and provide policymakers with evidence-based information to counter misleading narratives that hinder effective tobacco control policies., Speakers included representatives from national parliaments, international organizations, and the WHO FCTC Secretariat, who shared insights on the importance of strong parliamentary engagement and cross-sectoral collaboration., Participants expressed their commitment to continue working with the Secretariat of the WHO FCTC to strengthen implementation efforts at the national, regional, and global levels., Secretariat of the WHO FCTC side event - Parliamentarians strengthen collaboration on tobacco control during 151st IPU Assembly

With the expansion of the FCTC 2030 project, countries that are eligible to receive Official Development Assistance (ODA) are encouraged to apply for individually tailored assistance to implement the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC)., Parties to the Convention who are committed to accelerate WHO FCTC implementation need to submit their applications by 22 November 2019., We can now expand the FCTC 2030 project and assist more Parties to implement the WHO FCTC, thanks to our generous funders”., A needs assessment and an economic investment case to support the comprehensive implementation of the WHO FCTC will be provided., We hope to announce additional donors soon., The Convention Secretariat is inviting Parties that are eligible to receive Official Development Assistance (ODA) to apply for the second round of the FCTC 2030 in support to the implementation of the WHO FCTC

The Convention Secretariat, which serves as the secretariat of both the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) and of the Protocol, contributes to the workshop in its capacity to support Parties to the WHO FCTC to implement comprehensive tobacco control measures and to become Parties to the Protocol., Dr Adriana Blanco Marquizo, Head of the Convention Secretariat, congratulated Georgia, a Party to the WHO FCTC since 2006, on its achievements in tobacco control and highlighted that “as a country that has been praised as a success story in the fight against illicit trade in tobacco products - having managed to increase tobacco taxes while reducing illicit tobacco products in its domestic market - Georgia is well placed to build on, and share its strong experience both regionally and globally.”, Through the project, Georgia has been working on strengthening its tobacco control legislation to ensure its full compliance with the Convention., The FCTC2030 project supports eligible Parties in their efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by accelerating the implementation of the WHO FCTC., Speech Dr Adriana Blanco Marquizo, Head of the Secretariat of the WHO FCTC, The Convention Secretariat contributes to the European Commission TAIEX workshop promoting the Accession to the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Control in Georgia Tibilisi

The World Health Organization (WHO) and the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) Secretariat provided the WTO panel with a joint submission or amicus brief, that gave an overview of global tobacco control, summarized the public health evidence underlying tobacco plain packaging and the relevant provisions of the WHO FCTC and its Guidelines., The panel decided that Australia’s policy on plain packaging was consistent with WTO law., This appeal was consolidated with the one from the Dominican Republic, into one that has now ended with the Appellate Body decision published., Australia’s law withstood a domestic legal challenge, an investment treaty claim and the WTO challenges., At the WTO, Australia’s plain packaging law was challenged primarily on grounds that it was more restrictive of trade than necessary to protect human health, and that it unjustifiably interfered with use of tobacco company trademarks on packaging., WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control : a 15-year-old global treaty that protects and saves lives from the harms of tobacco

This year, the focus of World No Tobacco Day 2019 is on "tobacco and lung health.", Lungs play a fundamental role for the health and well-being of all people., The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) is the first global public health treaty that responds to the global tobacco epidemic., Countries should respond to the tobacco epidemic through full implementation of the WHO FCTC which involves developing, implementing, and enforcing effective tobacco control policies aimed at reducing the demand for tobacco., Implementation of the WHO FCTC is recognized as an accelerator for development and is included as Target 3.a of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development., Convention Secretariat joins WHO in the campaign to celebrate World No Tobacco Day 2019