THE FIFTH CONSULTATIVE FORUM OF THE POLICY INSTITUTES COMMITTEE IN KIGALI RWANDA FROM 21 TO 23 OCTOBER 2015.

1. The Framework Convention on
Tobacco Control
Mamadou Bamba Sagna
Tobacco Control Expert
ACBF

2. Outline
• What is the WHO FCTC?
• Overview of obligations
• Role of the Conference of the Parties
• Implementation guidelines
• The Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco
Products

3. TOBACCO USE IS THE LEADING PREVENTABLE CAUSE OF
DEATH IN THE WORLD

4. WHO FCTC
The WHO FCTC is the World Health Organization’s Framework
Convention on Tobacco Control
 It is also known as the “FCTC,” “Treaty,” “Framework
Convention,” or the “Convention”
Parties (currently 180): countries bound to follow the provisions of the
Treaty
Member states (currently 193): countries that are members of the
World Health Organization
Entered into force on 27th February 2005

5. WHO FCTC
The obligation on parties to implement the Treaty in good faith
The WHO FCTC sets a floor, not a ceiling
 “… Parties are encouraged to implement measures beyond
those required by this Convention and its protocols …”
— FCTC Article 2
“Effective” means evidence based
 “… effective legislative, executive, administrative or other
measures should be contemplated …”
— FCTC Article 4
“In accordance with national law"

6. Overview of FCTC
The Convention is divided into sections:
• Articles 3-5 establish the objective, guiding
principles and general obligations engendered by
the treaty;
• Articles 6 to 14: demand-side reduction measures;
• Articles 15-17: supply-side reduction measures;

7. Objective of the FCTC
Overall objective of the FCTC:
 “To protect present and future generations from the
devastating health, social, environmental and
economic consequences of tobacco consumption and
exposure to tobacco smoke … to reduce continually
and substantially the prevalence of tobacco use and
exposure to tobacco smoke.”
— FCTC Article 3

8. General Obligations
Article 5: establishes the basic obligations of parties
under the Convention to advance tobacco control
efforts through national action and international
obligations.
Article 5.3: requires parties to undertake measures to
protect tobacco control policies from the interests of
the tobacco industry, including the adoption of new
legislation when necessary.

9. Reduces demand:
Articles 6–14
• Parties agree to undertake a range of demand reduction and
supply reduction measures including in relation to:
• Taxation (art.6);
• Protection from exposure to tobacco smoke (art.8);
• Tobacco product disclosures (art.9);
• Regulation of contents and emissions (art.10);
• Packaging and labeling (art.11);
• Education, communication, training and public awareness
(art.12);
• Tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship (art.13);
• Cessation (art. 14)

10. Reduces supply:
Articles 15–17
• Illicit trade (art. 15);
• Sales to and by minors (art.16);
• Provision of support for economically viable
alternative activities (art.17)

11. Role of the Conference of the
Parties
Intergovernmental
• Setting of standards
• –implementation guidelines, declarations
• Building and dissemination of knowledge
• –the processes themselves
• –the work commissioned, the reports produced
• Monitoring of implementation
• –consideration of Parties’ reports
• –Secretariat’s Global Progress Reports

12. Role of the Conference of the
Parties
• Facilitation of international cooperation
• –coming together at COPs and at intersessional
meetings
• –cooperation between international organizations
• Mobilisation of resources (of all kinds) to support
implementation

13. Implementation guidelines adopted
• Guidelines on protection against tobacco industry
influence (Article 5.3)
• Guidelines on taxation (Article 6)
• Guidelines on protection against exposure to
tobacco smoke (Article 8)
• Partial guidelines on product disclosure and
regulation (Articles 9 and 10)
• guidelines on packaging and labelling (Article 11)

14. Implementation guidelines adopted
• Guidelines on education, training, communication
and public awareness (Article 12);
• Guidelines on advertising, promotion and
sponsorship Article (13);
• Guidelines on cessation (Article 14)

15. The Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade
in Tobacco Products
 First Protocol to the WHO FCTC;
 Adopted in November 2012 in Seoul by the Conference of
the Parties to the WHO FCTC;
 New international treaty – ratification and implementation
will require involvement of various government sectors,
including public health, customs, law enforcement and
justice;
 Parties to the protocol: 9 (among them 2 African countries
(Congo and Gabon).

16. THE MANY FACES OF THE TOBACCO INDUSTRY
• DISTRIBUTORS
• IMPORTERS
• EXPORTERS
• DUTY FREE DISTRIBUTORS
• RETAILERS
• DUTY FREE RETAILS
• ALLIED AND THIRD-PARTY
INDUSTRIES (E.G ADVERTISING
AND HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY)
• SMOKERS RIGHT ASSOCIATIONS
• STATE-OWNED, NATIONAL
AND MULTINATIONAL
TOBACCO COMPANIES
• SUBSIDIARIES AND
REPRESENTATIVES
• TOBACCO INDUSTRY FUNDED
TOBACCO GROWERS
ASSOCIATIONS
• ALLIED AND THIRD PARTY
INDUSTRY (E.G PESTICIDES
AND OTHER INPUTS)
• LEAF BUYING AND
PROCESSING
growing manufacture
distributingselling

17. FORMS OF TOBACCO INDUSTRY INTERFERENCE
IN TOBACCO CONTROL POLICY MAKING
Maneuvering
to hijack the
political and
legislative
process
Exaggerating
the
economic
importance
of the
industry
Manipulatin
g public
opinion to
gain the
appearance
of
respectabilit
y
Fabricating
support
through
front groups
Discrediting
proven
science
Intimidating
government
s with
litigation or
the threat of
litigation

18. THANK YOU ! MERCI !