Tobacco control: a priority at the next UN meeting on non-communicable diseases

As the 4th United Nations High-Level Meeting on Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) looms, scheduled for September 2025 in New York, tobacco control stakeholders are calling for stronger international commitments. The draft political declaration (" Zero Draft "), currently under negotiation, represents a decisive opportunity to advance the implementation of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), twenty years after its adoption.

An ambitious global target: 150 million fewer smokers by 2030

Tobacco is currently responsible for more than 8 million deaths each year worldwide, a large proportion of which could be avoided. It is one of the main risk factors for chronic diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, stroke, and respiratory diseases. Zero Draft recalls that 1.3 billion people still use tobacco worldwide and sets an ambitious global target: to reduce the number of smokers by 150 million by 2030. This target is part of a broader strategy to reduce premature mortality from NCDs by one third by 2030, in line with Sustainable Development Goal 3.4, and to fully implement the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), cited in SDG 3.a.

A call to strengthen public health measures

To achieve these goals, States are called upon to accelerate the implementation of the most effective demand reduction measures. The draft declaration calls, in particular, for the widespread use of graphic health warnings and plain packaging on tobacco products, for the prohibition of all forms of advertising, promotion, or sponsorship, including in digital environments, and for ensuring the protection of citizens from exposure to smoke in all enclosed public places, workplaces, and transport. Particular attention is paid to taxation: the text recommends that by 2030, at least 80% of countries apply tobacco taxation in line with WHO recommendations, i.e., taxation representing at least 75% of the retail price. Zero Draft also calls for stricter regulation of new nicotine products, particularly electronic vaping devices often promoted to young people as harmless or substitute products.

An integrated approach to health, social justice and development

Tobacco control is also framed within a broader perspective of social justice and sustainable development. The draft declaration emphasizes that NCDs and their risk factors disproportionately affect the poorest and most vulnerable populations. It recognizes the impact of tobacco use on health inequalities, particularly in urban areas, island states, among young people, women, and those living in contexts of crisis or economic instability. The integration of tobacco cessation services into primary health care is highlighted as a priority, as is the strengthening of information and prevention programs for the general public, particularly children and adolescents, in schools and communities.

Better management of the commercial determinants of health

The text also calls for better consideration of the commercial determinants of health. Although this notion is not explicitly formulated in the current version of the Zero Draft, it is widely discussed through recommendations relating to taxation, marketing regulation, the fight against disinformation and the need to create environments conducive to health. The report of the Secretary-General of the United Nations published in January 2025 (A/79/762) nevertheless emphasizes these determinants. It highlights how the commercial strategies and practices of large industries, particularly tobacco, constitute major obstacles to health progress. In this perspective, the Global Alliance for Tobacco Control (GATC) calls for the explicit inclusion in the final version of the declaration of commitments aimed at regulating harmful commercial practices and protecting public health policies from industrial interests.

Protecting public policy from industry influence

The issue of tobacco industry interference is also a major concern. Although Article 5.3 of the FCTC is not explicitly named in the current text, the need to ensure transparency in public policies and prevent conflicts of interest is clearly stated. The GATC advocates for the final version of the text to include a specific commitment to implement this article, in order to protect decision-making processes from the direct or indirect influence of tobacco and nicotine manufacturers.

Finally, the draft highlights the need for sustainable financing to achieve the set targets. It encourages governments to increase budgetary resources allocated to combating NCDs, through better financial governance and targeted taxes on harmful products such as tobacco. It also calls on international donors, particularly the Global Fund, to support prevention policies, including those focused on tobacco control. The objective is clear: to ensure that at least 80 countries have a health system covering NCD-related care, diagnostics, and medicines by 2030.

©Generation Without Tobacco

AE