WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control enters into force

On 27 February, The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control enters into force, becoming binding international law for its first 40 Contracting Parties.

The WHO FCTC is the first global public health treaty created under the auspices of WHO designed to save millions of lives now lost to tobacco.

Country Parties to the Convention will be bound by provisions set out in the Treaty. These include: comprehensive tobacco advertising bans, price and tax increases, health warning labels on tobacco products and measures to protect people from second-hand tobacco smoke, among other tobacco control strategies.

The final text was adopted unanimously by the World Health Assembly on 21 May 2003. By 29 November 2004, 40 countries had become Contracting Parties to the Treaty -- the trigger that brings it into force 90 days later. Since 29 November, 17 more countries have ratified, making it one of the most rapidly embraced UN treaties in history.