April 30, 2003 – Washington tries to convince the World Health Organization (WHO) to water down an important anti-smoking treaty to bring it into line with certain provisions of US law.
The Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) was adopted in early March by 150 WHO member countries. It must be submitted to a formal vote on May 19, before being sent to the legislatures of the signatory countries for ratification. (See the PasseportSanté.net article on this subject).
The treaty contains many anti-smoking measures, and US authorities say some violate their national laws outright. They cite in particular the severe restrictions on the advertising of tobacco products, restrictions that would violate the freedom of expression that the US Constitution grants to tobacco companies.
Washington is therefore trying to convince the WHO to include an exclusion clause in the treaty that would allow signatories to avoid certain provisions. The anti-smoking groups revolt and point out that the treaty draws part of its strength from a clause that prohibits precisely this type of withdrawal. If the American request is accepted, they say, the treaty will lose practically all value since the signatories will be able to ignore the measures they don’t like. Some even go so far as to say that it would be better to see the United States not sign the treaty at all rather than adopt a watered-down version.
In addition to the United States, China and Germany have also expressed certain reservations to the text of the Convention.
The United Nations believes that tobacco use could cause ten million deaths a year within 25 years, double the current number, and therefore it is of paramount importance that the treaty be adopted by as many as possible. of country.
Jean-Benoit Legault – PasseportSanté.net
According to Associated Press, April 30, 2003.
