The Union’s tobacco control activities in Latin America, Europe, Africa and South-East Asia have contributed to recent smokefree laws, new graphic health warnings and a smokeless tobacco ban.
SMOKEFREE LAWS
MEXICO: Oaxaca State’s new smokefree law will protect 3.8 million people from the harms of second-hand smoke when it comes into force in April. It bans smoking in all public spaces, including hotels, restaurants and public transport, and is fully compliant with Article 8 of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. The ‘Law for the Protection from Exposure to Tobacco Smoke’ was developed by an alliance of 10 states in southern Mexico – Oaxaca will be the first to implement the law.
The Union supported the alliance with technical legal recommendations, based on scientific evidence and international best practice. Union advisors also ran training sessions on effective implementation.
The Union is working with the Pan American Health Organization [PAHO] and the National Commission Against Addictions [CONADIC] on this project.
RUSSIA: The legacy of the smokefree Olympics is being shared across Russia, after Sochi hosted a conference for cities working to enforce this life-saving ban on smoking in public places. Representatives from 12 cities attended to share experiences and develop best practice for enforcement and to discuss emerging issues such as e-cigarettes and cessation hotlines. Sochi shared their experiences from the Winter Olympics 2014, and spoke about the city’s strong tobacco control programme.
Irina Romanets, deputy head of Sochi city administration said: ‘The results of our tobacco control work are impressive as we have had terrific partners all the way. They have shared knowledge and methodology and have built capacity of our coordinators, doctors and volunteers.’
The conference was organised and funded by The Union.
GRAPHIC HEALTH WARNINGS
PAKISTAN: Pakistan has joined Nepal and India in requiring all tobacco packaging to carry graphic health warnings [GHWs] across at least 85% of the surface area. These three South East Asian nations now carry the world’s strongest warnings on tobacco packaging, stopping just short of Australia’s plain packaging. Pakistan’s new law was approved in February and will come into force at the end of March. The Union’s technical consultants have worked closely with Pakistan since 2008.
CHAD: Chad has passed a new law requiring all tobacco packaging to carry graphic health warnings across 70% of the surface area. When it comes into force in nine months, Chad will have the strongest GHW law in Africa. The Union provided technical and financial support for this project.
SMOKELESS TOBACCO BANS
RUSSIA: Sales of all forms of smokeless tobacco, including snus, chewing tobacco and snuff, have been banned in Russia’s Republic of Tatarstan. The new law will be enforced by the police, Drug Control Service and Consumer Rights Protection body, under the guidance of the Department for Health and Sport. Violators will be fined between 3,000 and 30, 000 roubles.
Policy-makers in Tatarstan are now assisting the federal government with developing a similar, national law.