It’s in the heavily polluted capital city of India, Delhi, that the 7th Conference of Parties to the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control starts its week long biannual meeting.
The objective of this gathering of anti tobacco experts, government officials, anti tobacco activists and media is to review the implementation of both the Framework Convention and the Protocol for the Elimination of Illicit Trade in Tobacco products.
This COP7 is not only of interest for the anti tobacco world but also for the whole sector of the tobacco industry because decisions taken will have an impact on its business.
In a taxi, from the Airport my hotel, not far from the Conference Venue, I saw several billboards defending the livelihood of Indian tobacco farmers. Needless to say that they are also keeping an eye on the proceedings of the Conference of Parties that is held in Greater Noida.
Country delegates and those representing the accredited organizations will review the implementation on the ground of the measures prescribed in the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control – significant tax increase, ban on advertisement, ban on sales near schools, deterrent images on cigarette packs, etc. – that are aimed at stopping and reducing tobacco consumption.
In addition, they will address the issue of cigarette trafficking that is weakening the efforts put in place by the Framework Convention and minimizing its impact. They will therefore also consider the progress in the implementation of the Protocol for the Elimination of the Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products.
But in order for the smokers to quit their deadly habit, you don’t just make their lives miserable, you must also ease the access to products and means (gums, patches, therapies, psychology, hypnosis, electronic nicotine delivery systems, non nicotine delivery systems, etc.) which can help them to live better and to avoid being among the six million individuals who die each year – 1 in 2 regular and normal users - from tobacco consumption. This will undoubtedly also be discussed during the coming week.
