World No Tobacco Day – 31 May, 2015
Theme: Stop illicit trade of tobacco products
Preamble:
Every year, on 31 May, WHO and partners mark World No Tobacco Day (WNTD), highlighting the health risks associated with tobacco use and advocating for effective policies to reduce tobacco consumption.
For World No Tobacco Day 2015, WHO is we calling on countries to work together to end the illicit trade of tobacco products. The illicit trade of tobacco products is a major global concern, including health, legal and economic, governance and corruption.
Illicit trade of Tobacco Products – What it is
Any practice or conduct prohibited by law and which relates to production, shipment, receipt, possession, distribution, sale or purchase including any practice or conduct intended to facilitate such an activity. Illicit trade includes;
Ø Illicit manufacture of Tobacco products produced in legal or covert facilities and not declared to the Revenue authorities
Ø Illicit importation of Tobacco products brought in one jurisdiction after avoiding applicable Customs duties/taxes.
Illicit trade of Tobacco Products – Why it is a Public Health concern
Ø It undermines price and tax measures for tobacco control thereby increasing the accessibility and affordability of tobacco products;
Ø Illicit trade deprives governments of revenues to the tobacco products
Ø It permits tobacco companies to subvert international cooperation in tobacco control
Ø Undermines legal restrictions and health regulations like those dealing with health warnings and sale to minors
Ø Illicit tobacco products attract young people into tobacco experimentation and use because they are more affordable.
Ø Illicit tobacco products mislead young tobacco users by not displaying health warnings and sometimes involving children in illegal selling activities.
Ø Illicit trade takes tax revenue away from the Government, which could have otherwise been spent on the provision of public services, instead directing such funds into the hands of criminals.
Ø Illicit trade strengthens corruption and weakens good governance.
Ø Tobacco companies have been known to use loopholes in tobacco control governance systems and indulge in the illicit trade of tobacco products.
Extent of illicit trade of tobacco products
Ø Close to 10 % of the global cigarette trade is illicit;
Ø In low- and middle-income countries, illicit trade is significantly higher, up to 50% and more
Illicit trade of Tobacco products- The solution
Ø Article 15 of the WHO FCTC includes obligations for Parties/ governments to fight illicit tobacco trade of tobacco products
Ø Article 15 is the basis for negotiating the new Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products
Ø The implementation of WHO FCTC and the Protocol to eliminate illicit trade in tobacco products is key to developing country specific policies and programs for tobacco control
Ø It should be implemented not only by the MOH but also other line Ministries and Government departments Customs and Police.
About the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade of Tobacco Products
Ø First Protocol to the WHO FCTC,
Ø Adopted after 4 years of negotiations in November 2012 in Seoul by the Parties to the
Ø Still open for ratification/accession by all Parties to the WHO FCTC (178).
Ø Implementation requires involvement of all relevant government sectors including public health, customs, law enforcement and justice.
http://www.who.int/fctc/protocol/en
Benefits of implementing the Protocol
Ø Prevents illicit trade by securing the supply chain
Ø Facilliates Law enforcement by establishing unlawful conduct with dissuasive sanctions
Ø Promotes international cooperation on technical, administrative, law enforcement and legal matters
Calls to action
Ø For policy makers
· Policy makers must recognize that the illicit tobacco trade not only aggravates the global tobacco epidemic and its related health consequences, but that it has security implications through financing organized crime, including drugs, human and arms trafficking, as well as terrorism.
- Ratification of the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products is necessary to respond to the financial, legal and health impacts of the illicit trade of tobacco products.
Ø For the public
- Members of the public should recognize the adverse health, economic and social impacts of the illicit trade of tobacco products, including the linkages with human trafficking and organized drug crimes.
- Members of the public can join the WNTD awareness-raising campaign, including through social media, to amplify messages and advice that governments and WHO will be issuing to curb the illicit trade of tobacco products.
Ø For academia
- Academic institutions can undertake additional research on the subject of the illicit trade of tobacco products to further document its harmful impacts, as well as the benefits to health, State finances and the control of criminal activities of curbing the trade of illicit tobacco products.
- A further area of research is the active role the tobacco industry plays in supporting the illicit tobacco trade.
Ref:
http://www.who.int/campaigns/no-tobacco-day/2015/event/en/
http://www.who.int/fctc/protocol/en
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