Andorra becomes the 182nd country to ratify the WHO Framework Convention

Andorra, a small landlocked country between France and Spain, has just ratified the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). Andorra had very little protective national tobacco control legislation and had a high prevalence of smoking with almost 34% smokers in the population aged 15 and over (38% smokers among men and 29% among women), according to the WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic 2018. The country was, along with Switzerland and Liechtenstein, one of the last European countries not to have ratified the Convention. As a result, advertising, promotion and sponsorship of tobacco products are still not subject to regulation. Similarly, taxation has not been designed at all with a view to being a public health tool for reducing tobacco consumption for many years. At the beginning of 2019, following negotiations with neighbouring countries France and Spain where the price level is relatively higher, Andorra decided to increase taxes on tobacco products. The Andorran government adopted a text that provides for setting a minimum price for tobacco. This minimum rate may not be lower than 35% at the lowest French or Spanish price. Nevertheless, the price remains very attractive for French and Spanish border residents (around 6^e the package). Now a member of the CCLAT, and according to its Article 6, Andorra will have to implement financial and fiscal measures to reduce tobacco consumption, particularly among young people. Fiscal and pricing policies are widely recognized as one of the most effective ways to influence demand and therefore consumption of tobacco products. Therefore, the implementation of Article 6 of the WHO Framework Convention is an essential element of tobacco control policies and therefore of efforts to improve public health. In addition to the challenge of this fiscal policy, Andorra will also have to comply with the obligations regarding the absence of advertising, promotion of tobacco products, packaging of packs, composition of products, smoking bans, etc. The Convention Secretariat welcomed Andorra's ratification. New tobacco control policies and programs will greatly protect the citizens of Andorra as well as neighboring countries. ©Generation Without Tobacco

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[1] https://www.generationsanstabac.org/carte-interactive ©National Committee Against Smoking |