this is good:
geneva – more than 190 countries on wednesday approved the first international treaty against smoking, including an advertising ban, aimed at breaking a habit that kills nearly 5 million people a year.
the world health assembly, the annual meeting of the world health organization 192 countries, unanimously adopted the framework convention on tobacco control (fctc) that commits them to fighting the “”devastating… consequences of tobacco consumption and exposure.””
“”today, we are acting to save billions of lives and protect people’s health for generations to come. this is an historic moment,”” said who director-general gro harlem brundtland.
the pact, which was agreed by member states in march after three years of negotiations, requires countries to ban or set tough restrictions on tobacco advertising, sponsorship and promotion within five years.
it also lays down guidelines on healthwarnings on cigarette packets, recommends tax increases on tobacco products and calls for a crackdown on cigarette smuggling, among other measures.
the u.n. health agency says 4.9 million people die each year from cancer, cardiovascular disease and other conditions linked to smoking and that the toll is likely to exceed 10 million by 2020, with 70 percent of the victims in the developing world. “”the spread of the tobacco epidemic is a global problem with serious consequences for public health that calls for … an effective, appropriate and comprehensive international response,”” the treaty declares.