Tobacco free initiative
Framework Convention on Tobacco Control
The Framework Convention on Tobacco Control is the world’s first global public health treaty negotiated under the auspices of the WHO.
In 1996, the 49th World Health Assembly (WHA) requested the WHO Director-General to initiate the development of a WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. Seven years later, after a series of international working groups and intergovernmental negotiations, the treaty text was adopted by the 56th WHA on 21 May 2003, opening it for signatures and ratification by Member States. The WHO FCTC entered into force on 27 February 2005. Currently 168 member states have become Parties to the Convention. All 27 eligible Member States in WPRO have ratified the WHO FCTC.
Implementation of the treaty is governed by the Conference of the Parties (COP), which has met three times since the WHO FCTC entered into force. Milestones for the COP include the adoption of guidelines on protecting public health policy from tobacco industry interference (Article 5.3), smoke-free environments (Article 8), packaging and labeling (Article 11), and tobacco advertising, promotion, and sponsorship (Article 13). The COP established the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB) to negotiate a protocol on illicit trade of tobacco products (Article 15) which have met four times. The COP also established several working groups to develop guidelines on: education, communication, training and public awareness (Article 12), tobacco dependence and cessation (Article 14), economically sustainable alternatives to tobacco growing (Articles 17 and 18), and regulation of the contents of tobacco products and of tobacco product disclosures (Articles 9 and 10).
Signatories to the WHO FCTC: 168
Parties to the WHO FCTC: 174
Other Links
WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control
WHO FCTC Meeting Documents
The Conference of Parties to the WHO FCTC
The WHO FCTC Convention Secretariat
Full List of Signatories and Parties
Nominated Experts for Protocols - All Regions
The Framework Convention Alliance for Tobacco Control
More Information
Documents
WHO Framework on Tobacco Control
| English | French | Chinese |
WHO FCTC Guidelines for Implementation (Art. 5.3, 8, 11, 13)
| English | French |
2009 Summary Report (WHO FCTC Implementation)
| English |