Tobacco control goes global: EU ratifies WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control

The European Union today completed its ratification of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) when Luxembourg's Ambassador to the UN formally deposited the EU's ratification documents with the UN secretariat in New York.

The FCTC is the first ever international treaty on health. It commits countries world-wide to act to reduce the toll of death and disease caused by smoking. The ratification clears the way for the EU to lead preparations for the Conference of Parties due to start as early as February 2006.

Commenting on the EU's ratification of the FCTC Markos Kyprianou, European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection, said : "The EU and its Member States played a leading role in negotiating this treaty, so it is right that we should lead the way in ratifying it. The challenge now is living up to the principles the FCTC contains, for example on protecting non-smokers from second hand smoke, helping smokers to quit and stopping young people from taking up the deadly habit in the first place."

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