Helping the world stop smoking

Global tobacco control efforts are gaining momentum, but success will require strong U.S. leadership.

Editorial. June 30, 2003.

Last month, 192 nations unanimously supported the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. It was a historic step. Never before had a global agreement been reached to respond to the rising global death toll of tobacco-related illness.

But it was also only the first step.

The convention, a treaty hammered out over three years by member nations of the World Health Organization, commits countries to enact anti-smoking laws, including strict limits on tobacco advertising except when at odds with individual nations' constitutional protections. It would call on nations to require that warning labels on cigarette packs cover at least 30% of the principal display areas.

It also lays out a course for nations to embrace strong, science-based policies regarding secondhand smoke; smoking prevention and cessation; and tobacco taxation and regulation.

The AMA applauded the treaty and has long advanced similar principles, both in terms of policies here, where nearly 400,000 people die each year as a result of tobacco-related illness, and abroad.

Currently, there are an estimated 1.1 billion smokers worldwide, translating to the loss of about 5 million lives annually. WHO projects this amount will double within two decades, with 70% of these mortalities occurring in developing nations.

That's why the next steps are critical -- and might get dicey.

The treaty is now ready for ratification -- the crucial transition from high ideals to a commitment to implement them -- by member states. Forty countries must do so before the treaty takes effect. International health officials hope to achieve this goal before the health assembly meets again in 2004. But they are certain that Big Tobacco will work tirelessly to delay and weaken the process.