American Cancer Society Welcomes Decision to Sign Global Tobacco Treaty; Urges U.S. to Back Signature with Action

5/11/2004

From: Unice Lieberman, 202-661-5711 or Unice.Lieberman@cancer.org or Rachel Tyree, 202-661-5707 Rachel.Tyree@cancer.org both of the American Cancer Society

WASHINGTON, May 11 -- The American Cancer Society today welcomed news that the United States has signed the World Health Organizations global tobacco control treaty, the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).

Secretary of Health and Human Services Tommy Thompson signed the document for the U.S. at the United Nations in New York late Monday.

"The treaty is a critical first step in defusing the world's ticking tobacco time bomb," said John R. Seffrin, PhD, chief executive officer of the American Cancer Society. "Signing it is absolutely the right thing to do, but it will only be meaningful if it is backed by concrete action. The Society looks forward to working with the Administration and Congress to see that this treaty is quickly ratified and fully implemented."

The Society called on the United States to take three specific steps to back the FCTC signing with action and demonstrate leadership in global tobacco control:

-- Submit the treaty to the U.S. Senate and work vigorously for ratification. The Senate must ratify the FCTC by a two-thirds majority vote before the U.S. can join in the treaty.

-- Provide more financial and technical support for low and middle income nations. This is one of the most cost-effective investments in public health for nations struggling to put effective tobacco control programs into place. Because smoking rates are declining in high-income nations, tobacco companies are now targeting low and middle income nations and the tobacco pandemic now threatens Sub-Saharan Africa, China, Southeast Asia, Latin America, and North Africa.

-- Reform tobacco trade policy. Current trade policies promote tobacco consumption and could undermine the effort to reduce smoking rates in low and middle income nations.

The FCTC embraces core elements of comprehensive tobacco control. It requires ratifying nations to eliminate all tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship, with a narrow exception for nations such as the United States whose constitutions may not allow a complete ban. It also requires warning labels to occupy at least 30 percent of the front and back of every pack of cigarettes; commits nations to protecting nonsmokers from tobacco smoke in indoor workplaces; urges strict regulation of tobacco product contents; and calls for higher tobacco taxes, global coordination to fight tobacco smuggling, and promotion of tobacco prevention, cessation and research programs.

The World Health Organization estimates that 500 million people alive today, including 250 million children, ultimately will die premature deaths because of tobacco use. At current rates, tobacco will become the world's leading cause of premature death by 2030. In the United States, about 440,000 people die each year from tobacco related illnesses and nearly one-third of all cancers are attributable to tobacco use.

The Framework Convention was adopted by the World Health Assembly in May 2003. Forty nations must sign and ratify the treaty before it can take effect. As of May 10, 108 nations had signed and 12 had ratified.

The American Cancer Society is dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by saving lives, diminishing suffering and preventing cancer through research, education, advocacy, and service. Founded in 1913 and with national headquarters in Atlanta, the Society has 14 regional Divisions and local offices in 3,400 communities, involving millions of volunteers across the United States. For more information anytime, call 1-800-ACS-2345 or visit http://www.cancer.org.