Tobacco
Framework Convention on Tobacco Control
The World Health Organization's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control is a treaty to address the health, social, environmental and economic consequences of tobacco consumption worldwide.
Background
Guidelines
Public notification of meetings
Further information
Background
The convention entered into force on 27 February 2005 making the provisions of the treaty legally binding for the first 40 contracting parties to the convention. Australia ratified it on 27 October 2004.The convention is the first global public health treaty and aims to advance international cooperation to protect present and future generations from the preventable devastating health, social, environmental and economic consequences of tobacco consumption and exposure to tobacco smoke. The treaty commits nations to implement policies on tobacco price and tax increases, banning or restricting tobacco advertising and sponsorship, labelling with more prominent health warnings, reducing exposure to second-hand smoke, smoking cessation treatments and illicit trade.
The Conference of the parties is the governing body of the convention that decides on technical, procedural and financial matters relating to the implementation of the treaty. To date, this group has met annually, with the first meeting being held in February 2006.
Guidelines
The Conference of the parties has adopted guidelines for implementation of the following articles of the convention:Article 5.3: Protecting public health policies from commercial and other vested interests of the tobacco industry in accordance with national law
Article 8: Protection from exposure to tobacco smoke
Article 11: Packaging and labelling of tobacco products
Article 13: Tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship Top of page
Public notification of meetings between the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing and the tobacco industry
Further information
Information on the convention including the text of the treaty, records of negotiations, information on upcoming meetings and events, lists of signatories and contracting parties to the convention, and meeting papers and outcomes of meetings of the governing body, can be found at the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control website. The Framework Convention Alliance website also contains information on the convention.Page last reviewed: 1 September 2010
