¡@¡@
| FCTC
is the first and the only international treaty of the WHO.
(Picture from jeffreywigand.com) |
¡@ The
Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, FCTC, was initiated by
the former director-general of WHO Dr. Gro Harlem Brundtland in
1998. This proposal was accepted during the 56th World Health
Assembly in May, 2003 after gaining the votes of more than 190
nations.
¡@¡@This
treaty is the first and the only international treaty of the WHO.
It was open for all WHO members to join from June 2003 to June
2004. After which the treaty was kept at the United Nations for
90 days before becoming effective on February 27, 2005. The FCTC
requires all its member nations to establish legislations to observe
the various guidelines listed in the FCTC, so that the worldwide
tobacco issue could be brought under control.
¡@¡@The main
topics of this treaty are: tobacco price and tariff, tobacco advertisement
and sponsorship, tobacco warning label, illegal trading, second-hand
smoke. The aim is to reduce the harm made to human bodies from
tobacco consumption. The member nations need to apply the guiding
principles of the FCTC to establish legislations domestically,
so the tasks of tobacco control and prevention can be more effective.
¡@¡@The FCTC
contains 38 paragraphs, which contain 10 main points:
(1) |
Employ
the strategy of raising cigarette prices and tariffs. |
(2) |
Free
people of second-hand smoke and provide smoking cessation
counseling. |
(3) |
Testing,
control, and reporting of the tobacco ingredients and emissions. |
(4) |
Step
up the education, promotion, training, and public awareness
of tobacco-related diseases. |
(5) |
Guideline
on cigarette packaging, labeling, and warning labels. |
(6) |
Prohibit
the advertisement, promotion, and sponsorship of tobacco industry. |
(7) |
International
partnership to stop tobacco smuggling. |
(8) |
Protect
minors and minority members from tobacco products. |
(9) |
Discuss
the legal liability of tobacco manufacturers. |
(10) |
Utilize
the latest technology to aid in the area of information sharing
among nations. |
¡@¡@Although
Taiwan is not a member of the WHO, the Legislative Yuan has already
passed a tobacco control bill in January 2005 to keep up with
the recommendations of the WHO. An instrument of accession was
granted by President Chen, with the final approval made on March
30 of 2005. Taiwan has thus become the 51st nation to adopt the
FCTC domestically, realizing the ideal of no boundaries in the
name of health. The prompt legislation of FCTC in Taiwan shows
our determination and sincerity to support WHO's international
treaty and to participate in all WHO related activities.
¡@¡@The main
purpose behind the legislation of FCTC in Taiwan is to follow
the recommendations of WHO, telling the world our determination
to enhance our citizens' health by adhering to the FCTC. The hope
is also to put our health policies on the same page with the WHO,
improving our chance of joining the WHO in the near future. |
