25/02/53

1

WHO – Framework Convention on

Tobacco Control (FCTC) and Tobacco

Tax for Tobacco Control

Dr. Maureen E. Birmingham

Dr. Chai Kritiyapichatkul

WHO-Thailand

Why Tobacco Control?

Tobacco use is a risk factor for 6 of the 8 leading

causes of death in the world

Tobacco epidemic threatens 1 billion lives during

this century

25/02/53

2

WHO REPORT, 2008

Global TOBACCO epidemic

100 million dead in the 20th century

Currently 5.4 million deaths every year

(more than tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and malaria combined)

Unless urgent action is taken:

By 2030:

> 8 million deaths every year

> 80% of tobacco deaths will occur in developing countries

1 billion estimated deaths during the 21st century

Tobacco is one of the greatest emerging

health disasters in human history

Dr Gro Harlem Brundtland,

former Director-General, WHO (1998)

25/02/53

3

Reversing this entirely

preventable epidemic must now

rank as a top priority for public

health and for political leaders in

every country of the world.

Dr Margaret Chan

WHO Director-General

The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control

( FCTC )

a multilateral treaty with more than 150 Parties

the first step in the global fight against the tobacco epidemic

25/02/53

4

The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control

( FCTC )

a ‗blueprint‘ for countries to reduce both the supply of and the

demand for tobacco

establishes that international law has a vital role in preventing

disease and promoting health

FCTC Highlights

Taxation & duty-free sales— Art. 6

Secondhand smoke — Art. 8

Product regulation & ingredient disclosure — Art. 9 & 10

Packaging & labeling —Art. 11

Advertising, promotion & sponsorship — Art. 13

Smuggling — Art. 15

Liability — Art. 4.5 and 19

Treaty oversight — Art. 23

Financing — Art. 26

25/02/53

5

To help countries fulfill their commitments of

the FCTC, WHO recommends a package of

the six most important and effective

tobacco control policies

Called ―MPOWER‖

Fulfilling the Commitment of the FCTC

MPOWER: Six policies to reverse the tobacco epidemic

Monitor tobacco use and prevention policies

Protect people from tobacco smoke

Offer help to quit tobacco use

Warn about the dangers of tobacco

Enforce bans on tobacco advertising, promotion

and sponsorship

Raise taxes on tobacco

25/02/53

6

Tobacco control is not expensive.

But…..most of the world‘s population lives in low- and middle-

income countries where overall tobacco consumption is rising, but

which have fewer resources to respond to the health, social and

economic problems caused by tobacco use.

Tobacco taxes increase government revenues

Higher taxes can provide countries with funding to implement and

enforce tobacco control policies

Revenues can pay for other public health and social programmes

Tobacco Taxes

25/02/53

7

Raising taxes, and therefore prices, is the most effective way to

reduce tobacco use, and especially to discourage young people

from using tobacco. It also helps convince tobacco users to quit.

Tobacco taxation is one article of FCTC

Raise taxes on tobacco is one important policy in the MPOWER

Tobacco Taxes

A 70% increase in the price of tobacco could prevent up to a

quarter of all tobacco-related deaths worldwide.

A 10% price increase may cause 4% drop in tobacco consumption

in high-income countries and 8% drop in low- and middle-income

countries,

with tobacco tax revenue increasing despite reduced consumption.

Tobacco Taxes

25/02/53

8

Only four countries, representing 2% of the world‘s population,

have tax rates greater than 75% of retail price.

> 60% of high-income countries tax tobacco

at 51–75% of retail price,

Only 20% of low- and middle-income countries tax tobacco

at this rate or greater.

Tobacco Taxes

25/02/53

9

In countries with available information, tobacco tax revenues are

more than 500 times higher than spending on tobacco control.

For 3.8 billion people living in the low- and middle-income

countries for which information is available

tobacco tax revenue was US$ 66.5 billion.

total national tobacco control expenditure was only US$ 14 million per year.

Tobacco Tax Revenues versus

Spending on Tobacco Control

25/02/53

10

Tobacco is one of the greatest emerging health disasters in

human history

FCTC: 1st step in the global fight against the tobacco epidemic

MPOWER: Six policies to reverse the tobacco epidemic

Raising tobacco tax is a key strategy in tobacco control,

especially for middle and low income countries

prevent new smokers, especially among young peoples

prevent 6 of 8 leading causes of death in the world

increase Government revenues for other public health/social programmes

Conclusion

Thank you…

yvb