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Staff reporter
The World Health Organization (WHO) is continuing to intensify efforts against the global tobacco epidemic.
Tobacco control initiatives are being imposed around the world, such as smoke-free environments in both public and workplaces, a ban on tobacco advertising and sponsorship and mandating pictorial warnings on cigarette packs. However, it seems that people are still lighting up.
Stronger measures, such as strict regulations on the ingredients in tobacco products, are being pushed as part of the implementation of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).
The FCTC, which came into force in February 27, 2005, is the first negotiated treaty under the auspices of WHO. It has been ratified by 168 countries, including Korea.
The regulation and disclosure of ingredients in tobacco products is included under Article 9 and 20 of the FCTC.
``Tobacco product regulation has the potential to contribute to reducing tobacco-attributable disease and premature death by reducing their attractiveness or their overall toxicity,'' the proposed guidelines stated.
Under these expected guidelines, the use of ingredients such as sugars and flavorings that would make tobacco products more attractive and improve its palatability would be banned.
Some cigarettes contain sugars, sweeteners, spices and herbs to improve its palatability. Other flavoring substances, such as menthol and vanillin, are used to mask the harshness of tobacco smoke.
The proposal has been criticized by the tobacco growers, especially those growing burley that is used in traditional blended cigarettes. Without these ingredients such as sweeteners, this plain kind of cigarette would be rendered unpalatable and perhaps eliminate them from the market.
Other proposed guidelines include requiring manufacturers and importers to disclose relevant information on the contents and emissions of tobacco products, including their toxicity and addictiveness.
The guidelines for Articles 9 and 10 of the FCTC are up for approval at a meeting in Uruguay in November.
WHO has been working to combat the spread of tobacco use around the world, through the Tobacco Free Initiative.
The global organization has also warned of the increase in the targeting of women and girls by tobacco companies. There has been an increase in smoking and chewing tobacco among females regardless of age in the Asia-Pacific region, with an estimated 4.5 million girls between 13 and 15 years old now using tobacco products.
``Starting to smoke early results in addiction that later translates to a life of nicotine dependence, poor health and premature death,'' Dr. Shin Young-soo, WHO regional director for the Western Pacific, said, in a statement during World No Tobacco Day, May 27.
Shin said there should be more comprehensive bans on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship to protect women from strong, misleading tobacco marketing. Some cigarettes are labeled as ``slim'' or ``light,'' which women believe are ``safer.'' Shin noted that all cigarettes contain 4,000 hazardous chemicals and 60 known carcinogens. ``No cigarette is safe or less harmful than the other,'' he added.
Half of the countries in the Western Pacific region have not been able to legislate, or enforce effectively, comprehensive bans on tobacco marketing.
``The marketing strategy used by the tobacco industry is well known: smoking is portrayed as glamorous and fashionable. In many countries, women who smoke feel that it symbolizes independence and sophistication,'' he said.
According to WHO, tobacco is the second major cause of death in the world. Of the more than five million people who die each year from tobacco use, approximately 1.5 million are women. If current conditions continue, tobacco use will kill eight million people a year by 2030, including 2.5 million women.
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