From public health to international law: possible protocols for inclusion in the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. Bulletin of World Health Organization

Faced with a difficult business environment in the United States and the falling demand for cigarettes in industrialized countries, multinational tobacco companies have been competing fiercely to expand their sales in developing countries. Because of the worldwide threat posed by smoking to health and the emphasis being placed by international tobacco companies on marketing in developing countries, an international regulatory strategy, such as the WHO proposed Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, is needed. This review describes from a public health perspective the possible scope and key considerations of protocols that should be included in the convention. The key international areas that should be considered in tobacco control are: prices, smuggling; taxfree tobacco products; advertising and sponsorship; the Internet; testing methods; package design and labelling; agriculture; and information sharing. Keywords: tobacco industry, legislation; tobacco, adverse effects; treaties; taxes; advertising, legislation; product packaging, legislation; World Health Organization. Voir page 935 le re´sume´en français. En la pa´gina 936 figura un resumen en españ ol