The global tobacco epidemic

NEWS           
RESOURCES

NEWS

Philippines bill raises tobacco tax

December 2012: Philippines Congress passes "sin tax" bill which will raise additional AUD$540m excise from tobacco companies. The industry continues to campaign aggressively against the move.  Philippine Inquirer 11/12/12 

Treaty parties adopt protocol to fight illicit tobacco trade

November 2011: Parties to WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco control adopt new protocol for fighting illicit tobacco trade by international cooperation and controlling supply chains.  WHO release 12/11/12    WHO chief congratulates Australia, urges firm stand against tobacco industry: Chan speech 12/11/12    More at  Framework Convention Alliance

852m tobacco users

August 2012: Largest ever survey of tobacco use shows scale of the world tobacco epidemic - \852 million tobacco users worldwide, mostly in lower income countries heavily targeted by the industry. Study published in The Lancet. Summary: Tobacco-Free Kids 16/8/12 

Big tobacco targets Asia-Pacific children

August 2012: As Australia and other wealthier nations move more strongly against tobacco, tobacco giants increasingly target poorer nations in the Asia-Pacific - and especially children - in a "looming humanitarian disaster." SMH/Sun-Herald/Age 26/8/12  and see the tobacco giants' mealymouthed  response 26/8/12

16-nation smoking survey shows hard fight ahead

August 2012:  Survey of tobacco use in 16 countries in The Lancet shows despite progress, the fight to control the worldwide epidemic has far to go - with half of adult men in low-middle income nations using tobacco; women starting to smoke younger; low quit rates.  Lancet 16/8/12: full article and comment 

Vietnam gets tough on tobacco

July 2012: Vietnamese government approves the country’s first-ever comprehensive tobacco control law. Includes smokefree workplaces and public places, few exceptions; large, graphic pack health warnings; restrictions on tobacco advertising, promotion. Tobacco Unfiltered 25/7/12

Indian rollie trade exploits child workers

June 2012: Worldwide campaign to help young Indian girls, virtual slaves working long hours for paltry pay rolling "beedi" - cheap hand-rolled cigarettes.  BBC news 12/6/12

Tobacco death toll almost 6 million a year, says WHO
May 31, 2012 (World No Tobacco Day): Tobacco now kills almost six million people a year, including 600,000 from secondhand exposure. WHO confirmed the figures, pledging to stop tobacco industry interference.  NewsTribe 31/5/12   WHO WNTD site

Indonesia "invaded" by deadly advertising

April 2012: Articles in Tobacco Control  on aggressive tobacco industry tactics in Indonesia, only Asian country not to sign world tobacco treaty. Study  of industry docs shows companies taking over traditional manufacturers, undermining health policies; feature  on billboard campaign by a Philip Morris company telling consumers it's "better to die" than not smoke its brand. See billboard  under "Other Promotions"    Editor: "This is corporate genocide."

Tobacco diseases getting too little aid
April 2012:  Non-communicable chronic diseases - with tobacco the leading culprit - still getting far less aid and attention in developing countries than the problem warrants.  Slate, April 2012

World conference steps up fight against tobacco industry interference
March 2012: ASH Australia joins almost 3,000 delegates at 15th World Conference on Tobacco Or Health, Singapore. ASH speaks on countering tobacco industry interference in health policies. Australia is applauded for plain packaging and other reforms. Good progress in many countries towards comprehensive policies to meet world treaty commitments. Conference website     SMH report 24/3/12    Conference declaration   WHO chief Margaret Chan  address 

Anne Jones of ASH Australia presents at WCTOH Singapore on countering tobacco industry interference. 
ASH Aust - more pics at our  Facebook page 

Bloomberg renews funding, Brazil bans flavours including menthol
March 2012: Brazil bans all tobacco flavourings including menthol... More at Framework Convention Alliance  ... New York Mayor Bloomberg pledges another US$200m to world fight against tobacco.  More   

PNG minister and department boycott BAT-government committee
2011: Papua New Guinea's Ministry of Health refuses to attend meetings called by British American Tobacco to set up government-industry committee to vet all policy and legislation on tobacco control. BAT proposed a committee of BAT and government department reps - but invited Health Ministry officers refuse - Health Minister cites Article 5.3 of the WHO FCTC, barring tobacco industry involvement in health policy. FCA news 30/11/11

WHO chief slams tobacco industry Dirty Tricks
2011: WHO Director-General Margaret Chan slams the tobacco industry for unethical behaviour in trying to block tobacco-free policies including Australia's plain packs. She attacks industry claims at WHO meeting in Manila, urging countries to "stand firm together, do not bow to pressure... never allow the tobacco industry to get the upper hand".  AFP 11/10/11   

Tobacco poisoning thousands of child workers

2011: Thousands of child tobacco workers being "poisoned" - with Malawi just one example of the industry "turning a blind eye to human rights abuses by its suppliers in the quest for greater profit."  One World South Asia report 15/9/11

Tobacco industry interference theme of World No Tobacco Day 2012
2011: The industry's long history of interfering in public health - blocking, delaying, undermining protection. Australia and all parties to  Article 5.3  of WHO's FCTC treaty pledge to end this.  WHO report 2009   WHO chose "Tobacco Industry Interference" as World No Tobacco Day 2012 theme - exposing and countering the industry's aggressive tactics. WHO site

Australia pitches in to help fight against tobacco diseases
2011: Australian government pledges $700,000 to the World Health Organization to help other countries reduce smoking and fight tobacco diseases. Grant will fund an inter-governmental working group on tax and graphic packet health warnings policies. Sydney Morning Herald 21/9/11

China's uphill battle against tobacco
Sept. 2011: The fight to reduce high smoking rates and youth uptake in China is severely compromised by the government's involvement in tobacco production.  Bloomberg news 21/9/11

Call to bar tobacco from Trans-Pacific Partnership
2011: Trans Pacific Partnership negotiators urged to exclude alcohol and tobacco from any agreement. American Medical Association asks US trade delegates to move for such exclusion from all provisions of TPP or other free trade agreements - to prevent actions like those of Philip Morris against Australia's plain packs. National Business Review NZ 12/9/11  

World No Tobacco Day 2011  (31 May) 
2011 theme was the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC)  Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Association (SEATCA) calls for united effort of ASEAN nations to fight the epidemic - says the region still a "coveted and vulnerable target of aggressive tobacco companies". SEATCA  and  Framework Convention Alliance 

Tobacco is the world's leading cause of preventable death: Lancet
2011: Lancet  paper says tobacco control is No.1 priority to cut Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) which cause 2/3 of all deaths, 80% of them in lower-income countries - where tobacco adds to poverty, blocks development. Priority: fully implementing FCTC treaty.   
Lancet article 5/4/11   NCD briefing paper    NCD-tobacco factsheet    Global burden of tobacco factsheet

Call for action at world summit on non-communicable diseases
2011: As tobacco deaths rise, world campaign aims to  keep it high on UN agenda at 2011 Summit on Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs). Supporters writing emails to governments to ensure high-level Summit representation.  15000aday.org/

Asia-Pacific health workers battle Big Tobacco to protect children
2010:  What's needed to counter Big Tobacco interference in regional and Australian health: ASH and others comment.   The Australian 6/11/10  and see  ASH action guide  

Asia-Pacific conference urges Indonesia to act
2010: Delegates from 41 countries have urged Indonesia to stop dragging the chain and join the worldwide fight - and rock concerts to stop taking tobacco money.  APACT statement

Filipino Islamic Council forbids smoking
2010: Tobacco smoking was placed under an Islamic fatwa by the Supreme Council of Darul Ifta of the Philippines, anyone trading or promoting  the "filthy" product guilty of a sin under Sharia'h law.  See  ABS-CBN report 24/6/10

End smoking by 2020: NZ proposal
2010: Surveys show 64% support ending commercial tobacco sale, so End Smoking NZ trust proposes strategy for reducing smoking, tobacco sales to zero by 2020 with tax/price rises; reducing availability and nicotine content; permitting alternative nicotine products. EndSmokingNZ  

RESOURCES  
See also  ASH resources and links  - go to "International"

Confronting tobacco in new era of trade liberalisation 
2012 report from WHO's Tobacco Free Initiative looks at how to take on tobacco industry interference at a time of increased globalisation and reduced trade barriers. 

Curbing the Epidemic: Governments and the Economics of Tobacco Control
1999 report from WHO and the World Bank covers the compelling economic arguments for tobacco-free policies.

Deaths from smoking  
Great website from UICC (International Union for Cancer Control) and others. Slideshows on smoking hazards, quitting benefits, middle-aged smokers, world/country impact data, smoking deaths in 40 higher-income countries (including Australia) and by regional and other groupings.

Fair Trade Tobacco Doesn't Exist 
2011 project to encourage WHO to make tobacco farming practices that undermine human rights the theme for World No Tobacco Day 2012. Online repository of photos and videos on tobacco industry exploitation in lower income countries. From Non-profit Fair Trade Tobacco.

Framework Convention Alliance
ASH is a member of this alliance of non-governmental organisations from around the world who worked jointly and separately to support the development of a strong Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, and continue to push for effective treaty protocols.

Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC)
World Health Organisation treaty to address all areas of tobacco impacts. Australia has ratified it, among hundreds of countries. We have obligations including 100% smokefree workplaces, comprehensively banning all tobacco advertising and promotion through all media, and resisting tobacco industry interference in policy-making.   See implementation guide  and summary

FCTC Article 5.3 toolkit
Good set of factsheets for governments, with step-by-step guidance on key legislative and policy elements of preventing tobacco industry interference in health policies under Article 5.3 of the Framework Convention (see above). From IUATLD (International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease). 

Global Tobacco Epidemic 2011: WHO Report
Third report by World Health Organization's Tobacco Free Initiative on the global tobacco epidemic - its extent and character and measures to stop it. Global and country data on prevalence; impact of demand-reduction measures - especially graphic packet health warnings, mass media campaigns. 2011 report and other WHO tobacco resources

Sex, Lies and Cigarettes 
2010 documentary video (42 mins) by Current TV (US)  - explores and exposes aggressive marketing tactics of multinational cigarette companies in their bid to attract a new generation of smokers, especially among children and low-income people in low-middle income countries.

Tobacco and Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) factsheet
NCDs cause over 75% of all deaths worldwide. 2011 factsheet (2pp) from NCD Alliance outlines the problem and tobacco's role as a major factor. Features a photo taken by ASH Australia's Anne Jones in her role as a consultant with the IUATLD (world lung disease union).  

What's a life worth? The truth about tobacco
Snappy 3min video from American Cancer Society and World Lung Foundation outlines the global tobacco burden and devious tactics employed by the tobacco industry to addict new users - mostly children. Find out what the industry makes per tobacco death. 

WHO Tobacco Free Initiative 
Tobacco use kills more than 5 million people per year. It is responsible for 1 in 10 adult deaths. Among the five greatest risk factors for mortality, it is the single most preventable cause of death. See what the World Health Organization is doing about it.

Women and smoking
Women are targets for tobacco companies and tobacco use has a devastating impact on the lives of women worldwide. The international network of women against tobacco is a program of the American Cancer Society.

World Cancer Report 2008  
Global research review by WHO International Agency for Cancer Research. World expert panel updates cancer dangers, confirms secondhand smoke causes cancer in non-smokers. Endorses policies including taxation and smokefree laws.  Summary:  IARC media release 19/12/08 

World Conference on Tobacco Or Health, Mumbai 2009
ASH attended 14th conference, March 8-12, 2009.  The conference declarations included urging the World Health Organization to maintain tobacco control as a top priority.

Page last updated 11/12/12