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THE FRAMEWORK CONVENTION ON TOBACCO

CONTROL (FCTC)

Zanele MthembuZanele MthembuDirector: Health PromotionDirector: Health PromotionNational Department of HealthNational Department of Health

February 2005February 2005

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Introduction Introduction • Tobacco is a leading preventable cause of death worldwide

• It kills 4,9 million people annually. This is predicted to rise to 10 million per year by 2030

• 70% of future deaths will be in the developing world

• Tobacco use causes over 40 preventable diseases

• A smoker with TB is 30% to 50% more likely to die than a non-smoker with TB

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• In South Africa, tobacco related diseases kill about 25 000 people a year. This is more than the deaths caused by motorcar accidents (about 10 000 annually).

• About 60% of all admissions to Groote Schuur Hospital are from tobacco related illnesses

• The WHO has called this a “global public health emergency” and initiated a global response to the crises.

Introduction cont.Introduction cont.

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Economics of Tobacco useEconomics of Tobacco use

• Reducing smoking will reduce poverty and produce huge economic savings.

• Tobacco is responsible for higher medical costs, increased absenteeism from work, lower industrial productivity, and loss of earnings for ill workers

• These costs are not offset by the excise taxes paid on tobacco products.

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The cost of smokingThe cost of smoking

• Smokers of more than 20 cigarettes a day have twice as much time off work due to illness as do non‑smokers.  

• 40% of heavy smokers die before reaching retirement age compared with 15% of non‑smokers.

• Absenteeism is 35% to 45% higher among smokers than non-smokers.

• In 1998, over 2.5 million work days were lost in South Africa due to sickness absence from chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and asthma

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The cost of smokingThe cost of smokingCont.Cont.

• Loss of productive years of life through death from CVD – 90 000 deaths a year of which 40% are in the economically active work force. R2,4 billion per year in loss productivity.

• Loss of productivity through disability from CVD every year: At least 100 000 of whom 40% were economically active – about R2,4 billion per year

• The cost of maintaining the survivors (Health Care Cost and Disability Grants). About R2 billion per year.

• In 1994, the MRC estimated that for every R1 received by Government from tobacco taxes, it cost the economy R2 to treat smoking related illnesses and from lost productivity.

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The FCTC...The FCTC...• The first international public health treaty negotiated by Member States of the World Health Organization

• Objective: to protect present and future generations from the devastating health, social, environmental and economic consequences of tobacco consumption and exposure to tobacco smoke ...

• Timeline: 1999 – 2003

• FCTC suggest various courses of action that would enable countries to develop effective tobacco control measures. Recognises that legal and cultural environments varies across nations.

• The FCTC specifically recognizes that tobacco control in developing countries and in countries with economies in transition will require sufficient financial and technical resources, and it obliges the Conference of the Parties to seek ways to assist developing countries to meet and exceed their obligations in terms of the Convention.

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• 171 member states of WHO approved final text on March 1, 2003. The text was adopted by the World Health Assembly on 21st May 2003.

• Treaty will go into force on the 28th February 2005 as more than 40 countries have ratified it. (57 countries of which 8 are from Africa)

• Provides a roadmap that could lead to comprehensive tobacco control programs and strategies at the international, regional, national and local levels.

May 21, 2003: The Final TreatyMay 21, 2003: The Final Treaty

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FCTC: Process of EnactmentFCTC: Process of Enactment

• Agreement• Adoption• Signature• Ratification• Entry into Force – 28 February 2005• Conference of Parties

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South Africa and the FCTCSouth Africa and the FCTC

• South Africa Hosted the first ground breaking inter-sessional AFRO meeting in March 2001 which brought AFRO Unity

• Represented AFRO at the Bureau

• Elected as 1 of 6 Vice Chairpersons of Inter-governmental Negotiating Body with Australia, India, Iran, Turkey and the USA

• Chaired the second session of the Inter-governmental Working Group of the FCTC( 31 Jan to 04 February 2005)

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South Africa and the FCTC cont.South Africa and the FCTC cont.

• We signed the treaty on Youth Day,

16 June 2003

undertook to strive in good faith to ratify the Convention and show political commitment not to undermine the objectives set out in it.

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Current Status of the FCTCCurrent Status of the FCTC

• Signatories - 168168

• Ratification - 5757– Including:- Kenya, Mauritius, Madagascar,

Seychelles, Lesotho, Botswana Fiji, Ghana, Senegal,New Zealand,

Bangladesh, India,

Japan, Norway, France, Mexico

Accessions - 2

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The Convention contains sufficient obligations and exhortations to enable states to craft appropriate tobacco control policies to meet their own needs.

The FCTC obliges Parties to adopt and implement effective measures within 3 years after entry into force of the Convention for that party, on a number of demand and supply- side measures;

FCTC: Key Provisions:FCTC: Key Provisions:Obligations & ExhortationsObligations & Exhortations

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Key ProvisionsKey Provisions

• Measures related to reducing the demand for tobacco:

• Price and tax measures

• Protection from exposure to environmental tobacco smoke

• Regulation and disclosure of contents of tobacco products

• Packaging and labeling

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Key Provisions - cont.Key Provisions - cont.

  Education, communication, training and public awareness

  Comprehensive ban and restriction on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship

  Tobacco dependence and cessation measures

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Key Provisions - cont.Key Provisions - cont.

• Measures relating to reducing the supply of tobacco

• Elimination of the illicit trade of tobacco products

• Restriction of sales to and by minors

• Support for economically viable alternatives for growers

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The FCTC and International The FCTC and International Trade (Preamble)Trade (Preamble)

• Parties to the Convention are “determined to give priority to their right to protect public health”.

– To give interpretive guidance only if tobacco control measures based on the FCTC are attacked under other international agreements, including trade agreements.

– Encourages governments to prioritize the health of their citizens over commercial interests.

• NB: This does not place any obligation on a Party to adapt or alter, existing, or even future trade relations.

• FCTC does not affect the right of governments to enter into any bilateral or multilateral agreements.

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Article Article 22Relationship between this Convention and other Relationship between this Convention and other agreements and legal instrumentsagreements and legal instruments

• In order to protect human health, Parties are encouraged to implement measures beyond those required by this Convention and its protocols.

• The provisions of the Convention and its protocols shall in no way affect the right of Parties to enter into bilateral or multilateral agreements, including regional or sub-regional agreements, on issues relevant or additional to the Convention and its protocols, provided that such agreements are compatible with their obligations under the Convention and its protocols.

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Article 5Article 5General ObligationsGeneral Obligations

Amongst other things and in accordance with each country’s capabilities, this Article advocates the need for the establishment of national coordinating mechanisms / focal points.

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Article 6Article 6Price and Tax Measures to Reduce the Price and Tax Measures to Reduce the Demand for TobaccoDemand for Tobacco

• Parties recognize that price and tax measures are an effective and important means of reducing tobacco consumption [in] the population, in particular young persons.

• Without prejudice to the sovereign right of the Parties, the Convention encourages countries to determine and establish their taxation policies.

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Article 8Article 8Protection from exposure to tobacco Protection from exposure to tobacco smokesmoke

• Parties recognize that scientific evidence has unequivocally established that exposure to tobacco smoke causes death, disease and disability.

• Each Party shall adopt and implement … effective … measures, providing for protection from exposure to tobacco smoke in indoor workplaces, public transport, indoor public places and, as appropriate, other public places.

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Article 9Article 9Regulation of the Contents of Tobacco Regulation of the Contents of Tobacco ProductsProducts

• The Conference of the Parties… shall propose guidelines for testing and measuring the contents and emissions of tobacco products, and for the regulation of these contents and emissions.

• Each Party shall, where approved by competent national authorities, adopt and implement..measures for such testing and measuring.

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Article 10Article 10Regulation of Tobacco Product DisclosuresRegulation of Tobacco Product Disclosures

• Each Party shall.. implement… measures requiring manufacturers and importers of tobacco products to disclose to governmental authorities information about the contents and emissions of tobacco products.

• Each Party shall.. implement.. measures for public disclosure of information about the toxic constituents of the tobacco products and the emissions that they may produce.

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Article 11Article 11Packaging and Labeling of Tobacco ProductsPackaging and Labeling of Tobacco Products

• Countries are encouraged to adopt and implement effective measures (in accordance with national laws) to ensure that misleading words that created an impression that a particular tobacco product is less harmful than the other, are not used. These words may include terms like “low tar”, “ultra-light”, or “mild”.

• Each unit packet and package of tobacco products and any outside packaging and labelling of such products also carry health warnings describing the harmful effects of tobacco use, and may include other appropriate messages.

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Article 12Article 12Education, communication, training Education, communication, training and public awarenessand public awareness

Each Party shall promote and strengthen public awareness of tobacco control issues, using all available communication tools, as appropriate.

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Article 13Article 13Tobacco Advertising, Promotion and SponsorshipTobacco Advertising, Promotion and Sponsorship

• The FCTC encourages countries to undertake a comprehensive ban of all tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship in accordance with each countries national laws.

• Parties are encouraged to consider the elaboration of a protocol setting out appropriate measures that require international cooperation in dealing with cross-border advertisement.

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Article 14Article 14Demand reduction measures Demand reduction measures concerning tobacco dependence and concerning tobacco dependence and cessationcessation

Each Party shall take effective measures to promote cessation of tobacco use and adequate treatment for tobacco dependence.

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Article 15Article 15Illicit Trade in Tobacco ProductsIllicit Trade in Tobacco Products

• . …the elimination of all forms of illicit trade in tobacco products, including smuggling, illicit manufacturing and counterfeiting… are essential components of tobacco control.

• About a third (1/3) of all cigarettes that are exported, disappear en-route and end up in the contraband market.

• Worldwide, this amounts to about 355 billion cigarettes.

• Therefore the FCTC encourages regional and international cooperation in addressing this problem.

• The FCTC encourages countries to adopt measures that will ensure that all unit packets and packages of tobacco products, and any outside packaging of such products, are clearly marked in order to assist countries in determining the origin of tobacco products. The cost to be born by the tobacco industry.

• Article 18Article 18• Protection of the environment and the health of personsProtection of the environment and the health of persons

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Article 16Article 16Sales to and by minorsSales to and by minors

• Each Party shall … prohibit the sales of tobacco products to persons under the age set by domestic law, national law or eighteen.

• Each Party shall prohibit or promote the prohibition of the distribution of free tobacco products to the public and especially minors.

• Each Party shall endeavour to prohibit the sale of cigarettes individually or in small packets which increase the affordability of such products to minors

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Article 17Article 17Provision of support for economically Provision of support for economically viable alternative activitiesviable alternative activities

Parties shall, in cooperation with each other and with competent international and regional intergovernmental organisations, promote, as appropriate, economically viable alternatives for tobacco workers, growers and, as the case may be, individual sellers.

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Article 18Article 18Protection of the environment and Protection of the environment and the health of personsthe health of persons

Parties agree to have due regard to the protection of the environment and the health of persons in relation to the environment in respect of tobacco cultivation and manufacture within their respective territories

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Article 19Article 19LiabilityLiability

Countries are encouraged to consider taking legislative action to deal with criminal and civil liability related to the harm caused by the tobacco companies. This issue is raised in the Convention to enable Parties (to the Convention) to take appropriate steps to deal with liability. However, the Convention does not compel any Member State to embark on any action against tobacco companies. This is in line with the currently held policy of the South African government not to participate in litigation in other countries.

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Article 20Article 20Research, surveillance and Research, surveillance and exchange of informationexchange of information

The Parties undertake to develop and promote national research and to coordinate research programmes at the regional and international levels in the field of tobacco control

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Article 21Article 21Reporting and exchange of Reporting and exchange of informationinformation

Each Party shall submit to the Conference of the Parties, through the Secretariat, periodic reports on its implementation of this Convention

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Article 22Article 22Cooperation in the scientific, technical Cooperation in the scientific, technical and legal fields and provision of and legal fields and provision of related expertiserelated expertise

The Parties shall cooperate directly or through competent international bodies to strengthen their capacity to fulfill the obligations arising from this Convention, taking into account the needs of developing country Parties and Parties with economies in transition. Such cooperation shall promote the transfer of technical, scientific and legal expertise and technology, as mutually agreed, to establish and strengthen national tobacco control strategies, plans and programmes

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Part VIII: Part VIII: Institutional arrangements and Institutional arrangements and financial resourcesfinancial resources

• Article 23: Conference of the Parties• Article 24: Secretariat• Article 25: Relations between the

Conference of the Parties and intergovernmental organisations

• Article 26: Financial resources

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Part IX: Part IX: Settlement of DisputesSettlement of Disputes

• Article 27: Settlement of disputes

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Part XPart XDevelopment of the ConventionDevelopment of the Convention

• Article 28: Amendments of this Convention

• Article 29: Adoption and amendments of annexes to this Convention

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Part XIPart XIFinal ProvisionsFinal Provisions

• Article 30: Reservations• Article 31: Withdrawal• Article 33: Protocols• Article 34: Signature• Article 35: Ratification, acceptance, approval,

formal confirmation or accession• Article 36: Entry into force• Article 37: Depositary• Article 38: Authentic texts

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Financial Implications Financial Implications of the FCTC for SAof the FCTC for SA

• The FCTC will be integrated within the existing tobacco control initiatives of the Department of Health

• The main expense will be the financing of the Conference of the Parties (COP), its subsidiary bodies and the secretariat, estimated at US $ 30 000 per year

• At its first meeting, the COP will determine how it is to be funded.

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Constitutional ImplicationsConstitutional Implications

• The preamble of the FCTC makes reference to three human rights Conventions: the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, as other means of protecting and restoring human rights and dignity.

• The FCTC will enhance important values enshrined in our Constitution. In particular, it will promote and protect the Rights to a Safe Environment, the Rights of Children, as well as Health, Gender and Human Rights.

• None of the provision of the FCTC is in conflict with any aspects of the South African Constitution. (Confirmed by the State Law Advisors)

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Implications of Ratifying for SAImplications of Ratifying for SA

• Thousands of lives of South Africans will be saved from premature deaths

• Thousands of South Africans will be spared ill-health and disability

• Millions of South Africans will be spared the unnecessary loss of family members, including those who are economically active.

• Savings of billions of Rands related to loss of production,as well as health care costs related to premature death and disability

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THANK YOU