Framework Convention Alliance for Tobacco Control
History
The Framework Convention Alliance for Tobacco Control is made up of more than 250 organizations, and was created to support the development, ratification and implementation of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). The WHO FCTC was unanimously adopted by WHO Member States in 2003. It came into force in February 2005 (see the 
World Heart Federation Statement) and is designed to protect present and future generations from the consequences of consumption and exposure to tobacco smoke by strengthening tobacco control initiatives around the world.
Description
- Tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship
- Packaging and labelling
- Regulation and disclosure of contents of tobacco products
- Illicit trade
- Price and tax measures
- Sales to and by minors
- Government support for tobacco manufacturing and agriculture
- Treatment of tobacco dependence
- Passive smoking and smoke-free environments
- Surveillance, research and exchange of information
- Scientific, technical and legal cooperation
Final text of the WHO FCTC:
in English in Arabic in Chinese in French in Russian in Spanish
Signatures and ratification The updated status of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), including the list of signatures and ratification, can be found on the WHO web site.
Updated guidelines of the FCTC
This publication contains the guidelines adopted by the Conference of the Parties at its second, third and fourth sessions.
NCDs, Tobacco Control and the FCTC
The FCTC working group of the NCD Alliance released it's briefing paper entitled "NCDs, Tobacco Control and the FCTC".
Celebrating 5 years of FCTC
"Convention News"
Death clock reaches 40 Million
Intergovernmental negotiating body (INB) November 2008
The World Heart Federation participated in the second session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB) on a Protocol on Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products in Geneva, 20-25 October 2008.
The INB will report to the third session of the Conference of the Parties in Durban at the end of the month, an event that the WHF will attend as well. During that week, government representatives have met to negotiate a protocol which recognizes the serious threat posed to public health by the illicit trade in tobacco products – primarily through the undermining of tax policy – and the cross-border nature of illicit trade, which means that no state can effectively address the problem on its own. A number of important issues have been raised during the meeting, such as - The relation between this protocol and other international agreements and agencies, in particular UNODC, the development of an international tracking and tracing system, bans on duty free and internet sales, requirements for customer identification and verification. INB 3 will take place in June or July 2009.
The World Heart Federation will report on the Third Conference of the Parties which starts on 17 November for a week.