Reducing tobacco consumption: why international cooperation against tobacco is essential

The FCTC is today a treaty bringing together 181 Parties (States and the European Union), intended to combat smoking and its effects throughout the world.

Among the articles of the treaty are provisions concerning the development of cooperation between countries. A supranational fight against tobacco is indeed necessary for several reasons:

Global effects, global response

Tobacco is a true global epidemic, causing seven million deaths each year, including five million from cancer and 900,000 from passive smoking. The tobacco industry is one of the leading polluters of the seas and oceans. It is responsible for 5% of deforestation across the globe, soil destruction, groundwater pollution, overconsumption of water, including in countries with shortages, and emits 0.2% of total greenhouse gas emissions worldwide.

The tobacco industry: a supranational power

The tobacco industry saw market deregulation as an opportunity to tackle new markets around the world (Eastern Europe, Africa). It is therefore necessary to pool efforts in the face of an industry that, with almost unlimited resources, is deploying a global strategy. Faced with a supranational industry, the fight against tobacco, confined to the national level, is insufficient and certain problems can only be addressed through international cooperation. This is the case, for example, of cross-border advertising or the illicit trade in tobacco products.[1].

The tobacco epidemic: an obstacle to development

The tobacco epidemic is also an increasingly obvious obstacle to sustainable development, as shown by the aggressive strategies observed in certain regions of the world (Africa and South-East Asia in particular) where the costs involved are undermining the economic development of certain countries.[2] The international support and measures that the treaty prescribes protect states from interference by this industry in the public policies of countries.

In addition, countries help each other through good practices developed by some and which can be shared. This is particularly the meaning of the implementation guidelines adopted to implement the provisions of the FCTC, or the measures adopted by the Conference of the Parties, the decision-making body of the treaty.[3].

©Tobacco Free Generation