Posted on 07/17/2002 7:49:42 AM PDT by SheLion
GENEVA (AP) - After more than two years of negotiations, the U.N. health agency on Tuesday issued a draft of a treaty that would set international standards for controlling the supply, advertising and marketing of tobacco products.
The 22-page document includes recommendations on taxation, marketing, labeling and anti-smuggling measures designed to cut both demand and supply of tobacco, which the World Health Organization says is a major threat to global health.
One of the most controversial parts of the proposed treaty has been the question of how to handle advertising and sponsorship by tobacco companies. While some countries controls or prohibit advertising tobacco products, others have little or no legislation and in some cases such restrictions would be illegal.
The draft treaty commits countries to "adopt and implement effective legislative, executive, administrative or other measures to reduce, with the view to gradually eliminating the advertising, promotion and sponsorship of tobacco products." However it notes that each country should do this "in accordance with its capabilities."
It calls on each country to "endeavor" — within the limits of its national law — to phase out tobacco sponsorship of cultural and sporting events, prevent misleading advertising and restrict advertising targeted at vulnerable groups such as young people.
The document was put together by Brazilian Ambassador Luis Felipe de Seixas Correa, who chairs a group of negotiators from 191 countries trying to draw up the treaty.
It is the first time that a full text, without numerous sections containing alternative wording, has been issued. Correa said he produced it based on "a basket of best options" from the proposals made since negotiations started 2 years ago, but he admitted that some countries still would likely disagree with parts of the document.
Negotiators, who will meet again in October, hope to have the treaty ready for adoption in May 2003. The accord, which must be approved by consensus, would then come into force once 30 governments have ratified it.
The draft notes that an optional agreement, with more far-reaching provisions, could be drawn up for countries that wanted to make a stronger commitment on banning advertising.
African countries have led the way in pressing for a tough treaty with a total ban on marketing and sponsorship and other sweeping controls such as tight labeling regulations. Many Asian and some Latin American nations have followed suit.
The European Union also would like controls on advertising, though Germany has held out for fewer regulations. Japan's proposals for a weaker treaty have drawn criticism from anti-smoking groups who say the government is acting because of its stake in Japan Tobacco and its amendments would effectively deprive the proposed treaty of real teeth on major issues. The United States is opposed to an advertising ban, saying it would be unconstitutional.
WHO says a global treaty is needed because smoking and tobacco-related disease kills 4 million people a year worldwide. Deaths are expected to reach 10 million annually by 2030, with 70 percent of them in developing countries.
(/sarcasm off)
But of course they won't because it contradicts everything they are trying to do.
<----evil laugh
heh heh! I won't "steal" that one, KS. :)
Yes, I know it. And the Anti's are breathing heavy waiting for the WHO to release it. LOL!
What a joke! To bring out an old doc from 1998 and claim it to be all new. They sure take us for a bunch of fools out here.
Can we use it - with proper credit, of course?????
Anytime! 
Last year when I did one of those TV programs with Regina Carlson, of New Jersey GASP, she admitted she hadn't read it - because she had people to tell her what it said.
When I faced her again 2 months later she still had not read it and said I was using my own interpretation of what it said. She wasn't all too happy when I held up a copy of the Abstract I was quoting from to the camera. She also changed the subject rather quickly.
For heaven's sake! You know yourself, you whisper something in someone's ear, and by the time it gets to the 10th person, it's all different. NEVER believe all that you hear! Or read, for that matter.
Well, they did claim they had revised it [spun it] to their liking.
Since when did the US government start reading the constitution again?
Hahaaaaaaaa!
You caught that, did ya? Yep!
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