Free Republic

...the World Health Organization's tobacco control treaty comes into force on Sunday. It is regarded as smoking's answer to the Kyoto agreement - only with teeth. Ratified by 57 countries, including the UK, the document sets out a programme to reduce the number of people smoking across the world. Under its terms governments have promised to introduce smoking bans, tobacco advertising restrictions and health warnings on cigarette packets, draw up anti-smuggling strategies and agree to increase tax on tobacco sales. More than 100 other countries have also signed the treaty, but will not be bound by its restrictions until they...

(CNSNews.com) -- The world's first tobacco control treaty comes into force on Sunday, as the World Health Organization and 57 countries declare war on the tobacco industry and "the tobacco epidemic." More than 160 nations signed the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), and 57 countries -- including France, Germany, Japan, Canada and Mexico -- have ratified it. The legally binding treaty is "designed to reduce the devastating health and economic impact of tobacco," according to the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control website. In addition to banning advertisements for tobacco products, the treaty encourages countries to increase tobacco taxes and...