Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death in the world today.
When adopted, the FCTC will be the world's first legally binding agreement focusing on global tobacco control. The FCTC is no ordinary convention. The FCTC is currently being negotiated by the member states of the World Health Organization, of which the United States is a permanent member. This draft will be the focus of the next Intergovernmental Negotiations meeting of the member states of the WHO scheduled for April 30-May 5, 2001. The U.S. delegation is specifically requesting feedback on the Chairman's text.