EU Presidency Statement - Smoking or health

Sir,

I am honored to speak on behalf of the European Union. The Central and Eastern European countries associated with the European Union (Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia), the other associated countries (Cyprus, Malta and Turkey) and Norway endorse this statement.

1. Doubtless we are many today to assert that smoking is a serious, growing and uneven threat to world health.

Tobacco consumption is a leading cause of death in the world: every year, 4 million people fall victim to it. According to World Health Organization estimates, this already frightening statistic is set to assume substantially greater proportions over the next few years.

The effect of smoking is, moreover, unevenly felt. Of the world's 1,25 billion smokers, women and young persons account for an ever-increasing number. The average age of those starting to smoke is falling all the time. Furthermore, 70% of tobacco-linked deaths over the next few years are likely to occur in the developing countries, with the least favored strata, particularly in our industrialized or developing societies, increasingly hooked on tobacco consumption.

Sir,

2. The European Union has long given priority to action to combat the adverse effects of tobacco consumption for health. In 1985 the European Council first underlined the importance of launching an anti-cancer campaign. This initiative has since led to five successive programs under the general banner of "Europe against Cancer". Action against smoking, which is seen as the root cause of the half a million cancer-linked deaths occurring in the Union every year, is at the heart of all the measures put in hand.

At the same time, the Union and its Member States have continued to taken action to harmonize national legislation in the interests of providing better information and better protection of tobacco product users. Directives have been adopted in three areas: the tar content of tobacco products, tobacco product labeling and tobacco advertising and sponsoring the purpose or direct or indirect effect of which is to promote a tobacco product. Lastly, a proposal for a Directive approximating national standards for the manufacture, presentation and sale of tobacco products is under scrutiny. This Directive proposal contains in particular measures to reduce maximum toxic levels (tar, nicotine) and to promote more visible and effective health warnings designed to step up the already high level of public health protection.

Finally, the European Union also gives priority to anti-smoking policies. Public information notices are posted up in social services departments and at health establishments, and educational presentations are planned at schools in order to make the younger segment of the population aware of the harm to society caused by tobacco and of the threat which tobacco holds out for the health of smokers and "passive" smokers.

Sir,

The European Union has, therefore, long been alerted to the need to combat smoking and it is our wish to be able to share the experience gained, particularly in the area of legislation, in order that we may support any action taken, at whatever level.

The WHO discussions on the negotiation and adoption of a framework Convention and additional protocols should, in our view, continue and should be encouraged. If this Convention is to be universally accepted, it will probably be prudent, at least initially, to restrict ourselves to setting down basic principles to which all countries are willing to subscribe immediately. Furthermore, the specific protocols which will need to be negotiated at the same time may cover obligations which are hardest for all States to implement immediately.

The European Union also supports efforts to step up worldwide cooperation in combating smoking and duly emphasizes the importance of exchanging information on best practices.

The European Union also wishes to state its interest in the country studies and models of general balance conceived at the instigation of the FAO and the Swedish International Development Agency. It is vital that the socio-economic impact of measures to reduce tobacco demand in the developing countries be properly understood and analyzed. The repercussions of anti-tobacco measures are often very considerable in countries with an economy specially dependent on tobacco production. The introduction of crop diversification and tobacco production replacement programs should be examined and encouraged in this context.

Thank you, Mr. President.

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• Framework Convention on Tobacco Control of the WHO (25/3/2002)