Today, government delegates from around the world have taken illicit trade protocol global tobacco treaty - the world’s first public health and corporate accountability treaty - but not without a fight from Big Tobacco.
“In the two years since the last meeting of the agreement, Big Tobacco has taken its struggle to new depths. Brazen abuse industry’s efforts to co-opt the government and ignoring the rule of law were in full screen. But as countries from Australia to Norway strongly rebuked large tobacco in the past few months, thanks to an agreement and the civil society organized for them, we are optimistic the talks in Seoul will further isolate the rescue progress from attack, “said John Stewart, Challenge Big Tobacco campaign director for Corporate Accountability International.
John leading the team network accountability of transnational tobacco (Natt) in place in the talks in Seoul Illicit tobacco trade undermines tobacco control generates huge profits for smugglers and manufacturers of tobacco products, and costs the government billions of dollars in lost tax revenue, law enforcement and health care costs, said John Stewart Citizen Service News - CNS.
“For nearly five years, Big Tobacco has fought tooth and nail throughout these negotiations in an attempt to undermine the progress that prevent health policy and even the police on the illegal trade,” said Irene Reyes, a human rights lawyer for the health of justice in the Philippines “but a final protocol reflects delegates determination to preserve the spirit and letter of the FCTC to rally the public health and against Big Tobacco. However, while we may be isolated negotiations with Big Tobacco, the fight will now defend the implementation of the Protocol. ”
Adoption of a protocol to eliminate illicit trade was only one of many other expected results this week, including:
- The parties to adopt the principles of taxation - Big Tobacco trying hard to block efforts to codify the guidelines to facilitate taxation and this is not surprising: the addition of the tax on tobacco products has shown that the most effective way to stop the addition, especially for young people and low-income countries - target markets for Big Tobacco.
- The call for “judicial intimidation” strategy pushed Big Tobacco - Since the last meeting of the agreement, the tobacco industry has launched a global strategy for the trial, the use of obscure trade agreements as a platform to undermine the efforts of countries to implement the state policy in the field of health. At the last meeting in Punta Del Este Declaration was unanimously adopted by the solidarity of Uruguay, who is suing Big Tobacco for their attempts to implement the most powerful graphic health warnings on cigarette packs in the world. Civil society calls to protect the right to health over profit Big Tobacco.
- Confirmation of commitment to the tobacco industry responsible for the breach - a key article of the treaty parties must do everything in their power to share legal strategies, and resources to bring the industry to the account, as well as the Master Settlement Agreement in the U.S., where the state general Prosecutors sued tobacco corporations for harm to human health, intentional deception. This was a dramatic change for lawmakers who previously avoided direct confrontation with Big Tobacco. This week, delegates are expected to provide the basis for a road map of how governments can work together to hold the tobacco industry accountable for their abuse, to create the necessary revenue for the treatment of tobacco-related illnesses and expose decades of deception.
- Expressing the problem in the Czech Republic - Czech Republic was the last country to ratify the treaty in June 2012. However, they did so with the caveat - they want to reserve the right to include Big Tobacco in public health policy - a direct challenge to the treaty, which recognizes the fundamental conflict of interest between profit and healthcare industries and excludes Big Tobacco of public policy Health. This week, the country is expected to challenge the ratification on the grounds that the collection of cherry that the country wants to ratify the death sets a precedent for the success of this contract.
- Adoption of the guidelines to make the tobacco industry to disclose the toxic and addictive contents of cigarettes and other tobacco products, so that they can be regulated.
