28 Nations Sign U.N. Anti-Tobacco Accord

By NAOMI KOPPEL

GENEVA (AP) — Twenty-eight countries from across the globe signed a United Nations anti-tobacco treaty at the first opportunity Monday, with supporters saying it would get the requisite number of signers and take effect within a year.

“This is really a historic moment,” Greek health minister Costas Stefanis told reporters. “I think the signing of this treaty indicates the will of the people to go against the organized interests of the tobacco companies. It is a victory for public health throughout the world.”

The Framework Convention on Tobacco Control – the World Health Organization’s first treaty – was adopted last month after four years of often-bitter negotiations between nations. It provides for restrictions on tobacco advertising and sponsorship; tougher health warnings; limits on language like “low-tar” and “light”; and restrictions on public smoking.

An estimated 4.9 million people die each year from tobacco-related illnesses. That is expected to soar to 10 million in the next 25 years.

The treaty will come into force once at least 40 countries have signed and ratified it. Norway has already rushed through its ratification to become the first nation adopting it.

WHO Director-General Gro Harlem Brundtland, a former prime minister of Norway, has made the treaty one of the top priorities for world health.

Dr. Derek Yach, the World Health Organization’s chief of noncommunicable diseases, said he expects many countries to sign the treaty over the next few weeks and it should come into force in 6-12 months.

“This is a very significant day. It is a rare opportunity to have a celebration of public health,” he said.

Even though only 10 of the 15 European Union members signed the treaty on the first day, all will be legally bound because the EU itself signed on behalf of them all.

The United States, which only decided at the last moment to support the adoption of the treaty, has not yet said whether it will sign it. During the negotiations, anti-smoking campaigners accused it of trying to undermine the accord to protect the interests of Altria Group’s Philip Morris divisions, which comprise the world’s biggest commercial cigarette maker.

“When the United States signs is up to it, but we hope it will be sooner rather than later,” Yach said. He said the country’s two neighbors, Canada and Mexico, are both expected to sign within the next few weeks.

The Boston-based anti-smoking group Infact welcomed the quick signings, but said there was still much work to be done.

“Even as we celebrate this milestone, we are well aware that giant tobacco corporations are continuing their aggressive efforts to derail the swift implementation of this groundbreaking treaty,” said Kathryn Mulvey, the group’s executive director.

The countries that signed on Monday were: Bangladesh, Botswana, Brazil, Britain, Burundi, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Gambia, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Iran, Italy, Kuwait, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mongolia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palau, Paraguay, South Africa, Spain and Sweden.

—–

On the Net:

The Framework Convention on Tobacco Control

More science, space, and technology from RedNova

Copyright © 2003 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.