The Union is a global leader in the fight against tobacco use.
The Union centres its tobacco control work around the World Health Organization's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) - an international health treaty - and a package of evidence-based measures proven to reduce tobacco use called MPOWER. Our work has spanned over 50 countries, impacting two-thirds of the world’s smokers. We focus on low- and middle-income countries, where 80 percent of tobacco deaths occur.
Our priority areas of work
The most effective way to reduce tobacco use is through the implementation of comprehensive tobacco control policies that are proven to tackle both supply and demand, like those set-out in the WHO FCTC and MPOWER package of tobacco reduction measures. The Union's work focuses on the priority areas below.
Tobacco advertising
subtitle: The tobacco industry spends billions of dollars on advertising to increase sales
The Union has helped 4.13 billion people in 28 countries through advertising bans.
Our projects
From 2006 to 2023, The Union co-managed the Bloomberg Initiative to Reduce Tobacco Use Grants Program, which awards funds to projects delivering high-impact tobacco control interventions in low- and middle-income countries. In 2019 The Union launched the Global Implementation Programme, which supports cities to effectively implement tobacco control laws, and we are a key partner in STOP, a global tobacco industry watchdog. Both projects are also funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies.
Bloomberg Initiative to Reduce Tobacco Use Grants Program
The Union has managed 495 Bloomberg tobacco control grants in 45 countries.
Where we work
Many low- and middle-income countries, where 80 percent of tobacco-related deaths occur, are faced with rising affordability of tobacco products as well as an aggressive tobacco industry that targets both consumers and governments – so rates of tobacco use continue to rise. The Union has supported over 50 countries worldwide to implement tobacco control policies, impacting billions of people.
2022 Tobacco Control Factsheets
The Union’s Tobacco Control Department has produced five factsheets on critical aspects of tobacco control: COVID-19 and Tobacco; E-cigarettes, Heated Tobacco Products, and the Need for Bans in LMICs; Tobacco Control Implementation and Enforcement; Novel Products, Young People, and Policy; and Tobacco Vendor Licensing. These factsheets offer a deep dive into specific topics, summarizing evidence, defining key terms, and providing practical guidance and evidence-based recommendations.
Tobacco Control Publications
The Union produces publications and resources to support governments and civil society working to reduce tobacco use. These support the implementation of evidence-based tobacco control policies; and provide guidance on complex new issues for tobacco control, such as e-cigarettes, to spark debate leading to further research and action. Find all Union publications.
The latest news on tobacco control
China MPOWER/FCTC workshop leads to plans for legislation and research
On 2–6 December 2013, The Union China Office offered a technical training workshop on MPOWER/FCTC in Xiamen, a city of Fujian Province.…
4th Islamic Conference of OIC Health Ministers adopted resolutions on tobacco control
The Islamic Conference of Health Ministers (ICHM) convenes bi-annually to discuss the priority health issues of Muslim communities and…
Tara Singh Bam: Dedicated to stopping the disease of “tobaccosis”
In the remote Nepali village where Tara Singh Bam was raised, people grew their own tobacco. They claimed smoking helped…
Government of Pakistan establishes first provincial tobacco control cell
In 2011, Pakistan transferred responsibility for health and tobacco control issues from the federal to the provincial governments. This…
Smokefree Russia website launched
The Union and its grantee in Russia, the Health and Development Foundation, have launched a new website promoting “ Smokefree Russia” at…
The first smokefree beach in Mexico: Playa San Martin in Cozumel
The San Martin beach in Cozumel became the first in Mexico to be declared smokefree by the Pan-American Health Organization–World Health…
As part of the Tobacco Control Section, Union members work closely to organise webinars on varied tobacco control topics of interest to international audience, and assist tobacco control implementers and advocates with policy making in their countries, and contribute to the scientific programme of The Union World Lung Conference.