20th Anniversary of the WHO FCTC Tobacco Control Framework

On February 25th, the World Health Organization announced that the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) is celebrating its 20th anniversary this week.

The Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, stated that...

Tobacco is a scourge on humanity, being a leading cause of preventable death and disease worldwide.

Since the implementation of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and its accompanying MPOWER technical package, global tobacco use has decreased by one-third over the past twenty years. The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control has strengthened global tobacco control measures and helped save millions of lives. The convention is a milestone in public health and international law. We continue to urge countries to further strengthen and implement their measures, as well as call on countries that have not yet ratified the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control to do so.

Since it was implemented 20 years ago, up to 5.6 billion people are currently covered by at least one tobacco control policy compliant with the treaty, and research shows a decrease in global smoking rates.

According to the Convention, a total of 138 countries require large graphic health warnings to be printed on cigarette packaging, with several dozen countries implementing plain packaging regulations for cigarettes, which mandate standard shapes and appearances for cigarette packages without any branding, design, or logos. Both measures are powerful tools in reducing tobacco consumption and warning users about the dangers of smoking.

Currently, more than a quarter of the global population is now benefiting from smoke-free policies, which require smoking to be banned indoors and in workplaces, thus saving millions of lives and protecting them from the dangers of secondhand smoke. Over 66 countries have implemented policies banning tobacco advertising, promotion, and sponsorship. These policies include prohibiting tobacco advertising and sponsorship agreements in the media, making it crucial for more countries to also take similar actions.

The tobacco industry is aggressive, spending billions of dollars to promote its products and actively undermining tobacco control efforts, including the implementation of the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. The Framework Convention on Tobacco Control has played an important role in establishing legal defenses against this situation.

Adriana Blanco Marquizo, head of the World Health Organization's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Secretariat, stated that,

The tobacco industry is a deadly industry behind the proliferation of tobacco, and now it is trying to position itself as part of the solution, while actively undermining tobacco control efforts that could save millions of lives. The World Health Organization's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control provides a comprehensive set of measures for parties to protect the public from the harmful strategies of the tobacco industry, which aim to profit at the expense of people's lives and the health of the planet. We urge parties to remain vigilant against their predatory strategies.

Despite significant progress in tobacco control, there is still a long way to go. The tobacco industry still causes millions of deaths each year, placing a significant socioeconomic burden on populations. We call on countries to fully implement measures outlined in the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, including raising tobacco taxes, implementing smoke-free laws, fully banning advertising and sponsorship, banning and regulating tobacco product ingredients, and taking action to address the challenges posed by emerging tobacco and nicotine products. Through these measures, we can save millions of lives globally. We urge countries to double their efforts to ensure tobacco control remains a priority in public health and development.

Smoking is a key risk factor for noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), leading to premature death and disability. Tobacco-related illnesses result in catastrophic medical expenses, particularly for the poor, pushing families into a cycle of poverty. Smokers are more likely to experience food insecurity compared to non-smokers, even in wealthier countries. Furthermore, tobacco farming occupies a significant amount of land that could otherwise support sustainable food production systems.

Tobacco production further depletes important resources such as land and water, preventing them from being used for sustainable food production. In addition, billions of discarded plastic cigarette butts pollute ecosystems every year, further harming the planet.

The tobacco industry continues to undermine public health efforts by marketing, lobbying against tobacco control policies, actively targeting young people, and positioning themselves as part of the solution to the problems they cause.

The chairperson of the Conference of the Parties of the World Health Organization's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, Reina Roa, added that...

The World Health Organization's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control is one of the greatest achievements in public health history. Since its establishment, and as a chair of the Conference of the Parties, I have witnessed its impact. I have continually seen how this treaty provides countries with the necessary tools to protect their populations from the devastating epidemic of tobacco. We celebrate the progress, commitments, and lives saved over the past 20 years of the World Health Organization's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. Happy anniversary to the WHO FCTC.

The World Health Organization's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control is the first public health treaty negotiated under the auspices of the WHO, with 183 parties covering 90% of the global population. The convention provides a legal framework and a comprehensive set of evidence-based tobacco control measures under international law. These measures have saved millions of lives, including placing large health warning labels on cigarette packaging, implementing smoke-free laws, and increasing taxes on tobacco products.