The Government of Gabon has adopted five decrees in support of tobacco control. The decrees adopted in April 2016 are aimed at providing a legal framework for the effective implementation of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, (FCTC).   The decrees cover the following FCTC components;    

• Establishment of a Tobacco Control Coordination Mechanism ( TCNCM)

• Ban on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship;

• Tobacco Industry Interferences  

• Packaging and labelling of tobacco products, and

• Promotion of Smoke-free work and public spaces

Gabon ratified the WHO FCTC in February 20, 2009

The Convention obliges parties to ‘develop, implement, periodically update and review comprehensive multisectoral national tobacco control strategies, plans and programs in accordance with the FCTC.

The FCTC seeks to ‘protect present and future generations from the devastating health, social, environmental and economic consequences of tobacco consumption and exposure to tobacco smoke by providing a framework for tobacco control measures to be implemented by the Parties at the national, regional and international levels in order to reduce continually and substantially the prevalence of tobacco use and exposure to tobacco smoke.’