Tobacco Documents Online

_1 INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION OF CONSUMERS UNIONS ~ Jamm Im AGHAIT ® U P D A T E U P D A T E U P D A T E no. 3 / 86 TOBACCO (R HEALTH Off THE 3gTH WCRLD HEALZS ASSEKBLY - A SDMHY 1REPORT "Deeply concerned by the current pandemic of smoking and other forms of tobacco use which results in the loss of the lives of at least one million human beings every year and in illness and suffering many more; Calls for a global health approach and action now to combat the tobacco pandemic; Deplores all direct and indirect practices the aim of which is to promote the use of tobacco as this product is addictive and dangerous even when used as promoted". These are sentences taken from the resolution on tobacco or health which the Executive Board of the World Health Organization drafted for adoption by the World Health Assembly*. Two questions surrounded the proposed resolution. Is it strong enough and are funds available to ensure its implementation? An international delegation of smoking control leaders met Dr. Mahler, Director .General of the WHO, before the Assembly opened. The delegation led by the American Cancer Society, included representatives from the International Union Against Tuberculosis, the International Union Against Cancer, the International Society and Federation of Cardiology and IOCU. The delegation expressed its support for WHO's call for strengthened commitment, but concluded'that sound rhetoric has yet to be matched by appropriate action. "Time has come for WHO to move from resolution to action and demonstrate its leadership and prestige". At the moment WHO allots under one percent_of its budget to a problem which it describes as "the most important preventable health problem in the world". Underlying the resolution and the report was the conflict over what is best for health versus what is best for business. Tobacco is for various countries amain cash crop earner, providing jobs, income, and foreign exchange. * Note: the full text of the resolution was sent to you in February with the ATiAST. Update no. 1. IOCU's campaign to curb tobacco promotion vae launched in December 1984 and given the acronym AGHAST (Action Groups to Halt Advertising and Sponsorship of Tobacco). The AGHAST campaign includes monitoring of promotion and marketing practices of the tobacco industry, the production of action booka and lobbying tools in support of local action and international advocacy. For more information write to Atie Schipaanboord, AGHAST Co-ordinator, IOCU Central Office, Emmastraat 9, 2595 EG The Hague, The Hetherlands. Telephone (31 70) 476331. Telex 33561.

Industry manifested itself during the Assembly by distributing the so-called "Rio de Janeiro Declaration" to selected participants. The aim was to stir confusion and to persuade delegates to propose that there will be no discussion of Agenda Item 22 'Tobacco or Health'. The declaration takes the line that anti-smoking moves are "frequently contradictory or without foundation", whereas industry's response is "obj ective". The document told the WHO that the studies on which its resolutions are based "are not yet complete and are in some cases contradictory", that more studies are needed arxi,that there has not been enough debate to assess the repercussion of the resolution. That this action of sabotage had some effect proved the statements of several countries during the debate on the resolution. Brazil which had been speaking in favour of the resolution in the corridors throughout those days, changed its stance in the debate. Some countries like Malawi made it clear that although they would support the resolution, they indicated that they were not prepared to implement it. Japan supported the spirit of the resolution, but wanted to advocate the avoidance of regulatory decisions and wanted the spec ial characteristics of each country to be taken into account. Fbrtunately many delegations took a different line by proposing various kinds of smoking control measures countries should take to combat the tobacco problem. Highlight of the debate was the speech made by the Surgeon General Dr. Bverett Koop, who stated unequivocally that unless WHO puts its credibility arri prestige behirYi a very agressive campaign for smoking control, its goal for Health for All 2000 is hypocritical. The final result of this day' s debate was (a reluctant) adoption of the resolution. The concern, however, about availability of the necessary funds to fight the tobacco issue has diminished. As IOCU's Director Lars Broch said: "Given the clear and convincing language in the resolution and report, the most important element is nevertheless this: that tYie WHO and member governments make provision which will allow WHO to take to task what we all know to be the major avoidable cause of ill health and premature deaths." At the 'Smokies head office: London... OH NO! More statistics proving conclusively that smoking causes cancer. At this rate our market will collapse. If only we could find someplace where people can't read statistics. (from Health Now, WHA newspaper, May 1986) I ;00RW-`~ in++ ,Smvke ® N 2ZO 0 A ® I N ch 0 ~ ~ 0 NO v ~ ~ ® Mft CY aIW