The WHO FCTC provides solutions to the global tobacco epidemic through six key measures: monitor tobacco use, protect from smoke, offer help to quit, warn about dangers, ban advertising and promotions, and raise taxes. Implementation has led to rapid decreases in smoke exposure and heart attacks. Most countries have implemented some measures, though few have comprehensively adopted all six. Recent developments include new legislation in several countries. The success of the WHO FCTC depends on empowering comprehensive implementation of all effective measures.

1. Action for Prevention
Rula Khoury
Surveillance Officer
Regional Office for Europe
World Health Organization

2. Introduction
 We have the solution to the global tobacco epidemic: The WHO FCTC. Let’s use it.
 WHO FCTC is a powerful tool
 WHO FCTC is a strong stimulus for legislation at the national and EU level
 Legislation works
 The success of the WHO FCTC and legislation depends on everyone - Empower!

3. Evidence based approach
Background WHO FCTC measures include -
 First international treaty to be Monitor tobacco use and prevention policies
negotiated under the auspices of
WHO Protect people from tobacco smoke
 Entered into force on 27
February 2005
Offer help to quit tobacco use
 46* countries in the Region and
Warn about the dangers of tobacco
the European Community are
Parties Enforce bans on tobacco advertising, promotion, sponsorship
Raise taxes on tobacco

4. Evidence based approach
Monitor tobacco use and prevention policies
Why it is important
 Provides important information
about the extent of the tobacco
epidemic
 Helps governments allocate
tobacco control resources where
they will be most effective
 Shows whether policies are
being followed
 Shows whether policies are
working and how they should be
tailored to the needs of different
populations

5. Evidence based approach
Protect people from tobacco smoke
Why it is important It is a powerful and effective tool - it works
 There is no safe level of
exposure to second-hand smoke
 Helps smokers quit
 Reduces youth smoking
 Rapid decrease in second hand tobacco smoke by 80-90% in high-
exposure settings
 Reduces the incidence of heart attacks almost immediately
 Helps smokers who want to quit
 Encourages smoke free homes
 Results in either a neutral or positive impact on business, including
restaurants and bars

6. Evidence based approach
Protect people from tobacco smoke
Why it is important
 There is no safe level of
exposure to second-hand smoke.
 Protects people from the harms
of second-hand smoke
 Helps smokers quit
 Reduces youth smoking

7. Evidence based approach
Offer help to quit tobacco use
It is a powerful and effective tool - it works
Why it is important
 When informed of the risks,
most tobacco users want to quit,
but few get support to overcome
their dependence.

8. Evidence based approach
Offer help to quit tobacco use
Why it is important
 When informed of the risks,
most tobacco users want to quit,
but few get support to overcome
their dependence.

9. Evidence based approach
Warn about the dangers of tobacco
Why it is important It is a powerful and effective tool - it works
 Most tobacco users are
unaware of the harms caused by
tobacco use
 Pictorial warnings convey a
clear and immediate message,
especially to youth and people
who cannot read
 They reduce the overall
attractiveness of tobacco
packages

10. Evidence based approach
Warn about the dangers of tobacco
Why it is important
 Most tobacco users are
unaware of the harms caused by
tobacco use
 Pictorial warnings convey a
clear and immediate message,
especially to youth and people
who cannot read
 They reduce the overall
attractiveness of tobacco
packages

11. Evidence based approach
Enforce bans on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship
Why it is important It is a powerful and effective tool - it works
 Reduces use
 Changes the perception of
tobacco use towards not being
perceived as the norm.

12. Evidence based approach
Enforce bans on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship
Why it is important
 Reduces use
 Changes the perception of
tobacco use towards not being
perceived as the norm.

13. Evidence based approach
Raise taxes on tobacco
Why it is important
It is a powerful and effective tool - it works
 Encourages tobacco users to
quit
 Prevents children and non-
smoker adults from starting to
smoke
 Allocating tax revenues for
tobacco control and other
important health and social
programmes further increases
their popularity.

14. Evidence based approach
Raise taxes on tobacco
Why it is important
 Encourages tobacco users to
quit
 Prevents children and non-
smoker adults from starting to
smoke
 Allocating tax revenues for
tobacco control and other
important health and social
programmes further increases
their popularity.

15. Global Summary

16. Regional Summary
WHO FCTC should be implemented comprehensively
 3 countries have fully implemented 4 of the 6 measures
 Ireland - P, O, W (mass media) and R
Turkey - P, O, W (mass media) and R
United Kingdom - P, O, W (mass media) and R
 1 country has fully implemented 3 of the 6 measures
 France - P, O and R
 6 countries have fully implemented 2 of the 6 measures
 Belgium, Israel, Romania, Spain - O and R
Greece, Hungary, Malta - P and R

17. Global Developments
• Over the past two years, an additional 1.1 billion people have become protected by at least one MPOWER measure
implemented at the highest level.

18. Regional Developments
Recent Developments in 2011
 President of TURKMENISTAN signs accession to WHO
FCTC
 HUNGARY - smoke free public places and work places
 UKRAINE to have pictorial health warnings on tobacco
products
 Senate of KAZAKHSTAN votes yes to pictorial health
warnings
 President of RUSSIAN FEDERATION signs Tobacco
Control Concept
 ENGLAND bans tobacco displays in shops

19. Conclusion
 We have the solution to the global tobacco epidemic: The WHO FCTC. Let’s use it.
 WHO FCTC is a powerful tool
 WHO FCTC is a strong stimulus for legislation at the national and EU level
 Legislation works
 The success of the WHO FCTC and legislation depends on everyone - Empower!
 A wealth of evidence of best practices
 Best Practices collected by Hungarian Focal Point for Tobacco Control - school-based settings
 Best Practices collected by WHO Regional Office, and also jointly with German Cancer
Research Centre
 WHO/Europe Legislation Database

20. Thank you
For any questions, please contact: rkh@euro.who.int