During the 10th Conference of the Parties to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, delegates reported on their countries' progress and agreed to extend the implementation of the Global Strategy to Accelerate Tobacco Control by five years.
The conference included representatives from more than 180 countries, four intergovernmental and 18 non-governmental organizations, the Ministry of Health reports, Ukrinform reports.
As noted by the Ministry of Health, the Global Strategy includes priority areas of combating tobacco smoking and the impact of tobacco on human health and the environment both at the global level , and taking into account the approaches for each country party to the convention.
The current 10th conference is dedicated to discussing the further fight against smoking in the context of achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals. In particular, limiting cross-border advertising and sponsorship of tobacco products, protecting the environment from the consequences of tobacco use and tobacco labeling.
“The global fight against the smoking epidemic at the country level requires constant monitoring and rapid response to challenges associated with both the sale and advertising of tobacco and the regulation of innovative tobacco products such as e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products, and cigarette smoke in human health. According to WHO, the third leading cause of death in the world is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), those most vulnerable to COPD are. persistent smokers. Therefore, issues of sales control, advertising restrictions, creation of services and services to help smokers in the healthcare system and legislative changes that will help reduce the number of potential smokers, — are a priority for our country and coincide with global goals. As part of cooperation with the WHO Office in Ukraine and international partners, we will continue to strengthen the fight against smoking to protect the health of Ukrainians, – noted Deputy Minister, Chief State Sanitary Doctor of Ukraine Igor Kuzin during the conference.
The Ukrainian delegation also issued a statement in which, among other things, it recalled the COP8 decision regarding tobacco control in complex emergencies. Namely, when the implementation of the WHO FCTC during complex emergencies is complicated by emergency circumstances and leads to an increase in tobacco use and smoking-related diseases, despite the achievement of Global Goals.
As a result of the conference, several important decisions were made. In particular, the Panama Declaration, which summarizes progress in global tobacco control and sets priorities for national and regional programs, solutions to protect the environment from the consequences of tobacco use, and solutions to limit cross-border advertising and sponsorship of tobacco products.
According to reports, 4.5 trillion cigarette butts are discarded worldwide each year, amounting to 1.69 billion pounds of toxic plastic waste. Under certain conditions, such as exposure to sunlight and moisture, cigarette filters break down into smaller plastic pieces, leaching out some of the 7,000 chemicals contained in a single cigarette. Many of these chemicals are environmentally harmful. The Article 18 decision therefore strengthens the fight against plastic pollution, including in the marine environment. Another important decision taken at the conference aims to strengthen guidelines against cross-border tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship and the depiction of tobacco in entertainment and media.
The Panama Declaration emphasized the need to remain vigilant in intervening tobacco industry in public health policy.
WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) — an international treaty established in 2003 to help overcome the global smoking epidemic. Ukraine ratified the WHO FCTC in 2006 and has since made significant progress in smoking control, in particular through the introduction of effective legislation.
Photo: DPA
