Proposal for a Council Decision concerning the conclusion of the World Health Organisation Framework Convention on Tobacco Control
Date: 2003-12-19
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: World Health Organisation, international convention, smoking












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52003PC0807

Proposal for a Council Decision concerning the conclusion of the World Health Organisation Framework Convention on Tobacco Control  /* COM/2003/0807 final - CNS 2003/0316 */  









Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION concerning the conclusion of the World Health Organisation Framework Convention on Tobacco Control(presented by the Commission)EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUMIntroductionThe objective of the World Health Organisation Framework Convention on Tobacco Control is to protect present and future generations from the consequences of tobacco consumption and exposure to tobacco smoke by providing a framework for tobacco control measures to be implemented by the Parties at national, regional and international levels. This will make for a sustained reduction in the levels of tobacco use and exposure to tobacco smoke.The Convention was adopted by the World Health Assembly on 21 May 2003. The European Community was among the first Parties to sign the Convention on 16 June 2003.Adoption of the Convention was the final step of a procedure initiated in 1999, when, in view of the serious global health consequences caused by tobacco consumption, the World Health Organisation decided to establish an intergovernmental body open to all Member States of the organisation with the aim of drafting and negotiating an international framework convention on tobacco control and related protocols designed to curtail the global spread of tobacco and tobacco products and thus limit the health effects resulting from tobacco consumption.Basis for Community involvement in the negotiationsThe development of a WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and related protocols was seen as an effective way of increasing international co-operation in the field of public health protection, as provided for in Article 152(3) of the EC Treaty, while at the same time ensuring that existing Community initiatives were respected and integrated at international level.On this basis, and taking into account the Resolution of 24 May 1999 of the World Health Assembly, allowing the European Community to participate in the drafting and negotiations for matters under its competence, the Council, acting upon a recommendation from the Commission, adopted on 22 October 1999 a decision authorising the Commission to negotiate on behalf of the European Community, within the context of the World Health Organisation, an international framework convention on tobacco control and related protocols.The negotiations were conducted by the Commission in accordance with Negotiating Directives issued by the Council and in consultation with a special committee appointed by the Council pursuant to Article 300(1) of the Treaty.According to a joint statement of the Council and the Commission entered in the Council minutes, the Negotiating Directives covered only matters falling within the sphere of Community competence under Articles 95 and 152 of the Treaty. The Negotiating Directives were reviewed by the Council on 24 April 2001, with the aim of extending the Commission's authorisation to include negotiating on behalf of the Community on matters within the Community field of competence which do not fall under Articles 95 and 152, including matters which require unanimity in the Council.Participation of the European ParliamentIn its resolution of 13 November 2001, the European Parliament supported the objective of a Framework Convention on Tobacco Control set by the World Health Assembly in its resolution of 24 May 1999 and indicated its belief that a substantive international legal instrument such as this would provide an important means of addressing tobacco-related problems and, consequently, promoting public health.There is no explicit provision in the Framework Agreement of 5 July 2000 between the Commission and the European Parliament for members of the European Parliament to be included in Community delegations participating in international negotiations. Nevertheless, the participation of members of the European Parliament as observers was always welcome, both by the Commission and by the Council, during the FCTC negotiations.OUTCOME OF THE NEGOTIATIONSThe Convention deals with a wide range of tobacco control-related matters. Some of the key elements of the final text include:Labelling (art. 11) - The text requires that at least 30 per cent - but ideally 50 per cent or more - of the principal display areas on tobacco product packaging should be taken up by clear health warnings in the form of text, pictures or a combination of the two. Packaging and labelling requirements also prohibit misleading language that gives the false impression that the product is less harmful than others. This misleading language may include the use of terms such as "light", "mild" or "low tar".Advertising (art.13) - While a wide majority of countries agreed that a comprehensive ban would have a significant impact in reducing the consumption of tobacco products, some countries have constitutional provisions - for example, covering free speech for commercial purposes - that will not allow them to implement a comprehensive ban in all media. The final text requires Parties to move towards a comprehensive ban within five years of the Convention entering into force. It also contains provisions for countries that cannot implement a comprehensive ban which require them to restrict tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship within the limits of their constitutions or constitutional principles.Taxes (art.6) - The text formally recognises that tax and price measures are an important way of reducing tobacco consumption, in particular among young people, and requires signatories to consider public health objectives when implementing tax and price policies on tobacco products.Liability (art.19) - Parties to the Convention are encouraged to consider taking legislative action, where necessary, to deal with criminal and civil liability, including compensation where appropriate.Financing (art.26) - Parties are required to provide financial support for their national tobacco control programmes. In addition, the text encourages the use and promotion of existing development funding for tobacco control programmes. The decision on such use of official development assistance (ODA) should be taken on the basis of national priorities set and agreed with donors. The eventual need to enhance existing mechanisms or to set up other appropriate financial mechanisms to channel additional financial resources, which may include a voluntary global fund, should be assessed by the Conference of the Parties based on a review of the existing and potential sources and mechanisms of assistance and on an assessment of their adequacy.Illicit trade (art.15) - The text recognises that the elimination of smuggling, illicit manufacturing and counterfeiting of tobacco products, including the development of an effective system for the tracking and tracing of such products, and the development and implementation of related national law are essential components of tobacco control, and requires the Parties to take appropriate measures in this regard.The text also requires countries to promote treatment programmes to help people stop smoking (art.14) and education (art.12) to prevent people from starting, to prohibit sales of tobacco products to minors (art.16), and to limit public exposure to second-hand smoke (art.8).Basis for Community conclusionThe main objective of the Convention is the promotion of public health in a global context. This is in line with the EC Treaty, especially Article 152, which imposes upon the Community the obligation to act towards improving public health and urges the Community and the Member States to foster co-operation with third countries and the competent international organisations in the sphere of public health.Several of the areas included in the Convention are actually already covered by existing Community instruments. The Convention is in line with the acquis. The core provisions of the Convention reflect the solutions adopted in Community legislation, in accordance with the Negotiating Directives issued by the Council.Relevant binding Community legislation in the field of tobacco control regulates the advertising of tobacco products in the media and through information society services and the sponsorship by tobacco companies of both radio and television programmes and international events (Council Directive 89/552/EC of 3 October 1989 on the co-ordination of certain provisions laid down by law, regulation or administrative action in Member States concerning the pursuit of television broadcasting activities [1], as amended by Directive 97/36/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 June 1997 [2] which bans all forms of television advertising and teleshopping for cigarettes and other tobacco products; Directive 2003/33/EC of 26 May 2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the approximation of the laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the Member states relating to the advertising and sponsorship of tobacco products [3]); the contents and emissions of cigarettes and respective measurement methods; as well as the packaging and labelling of tobacco products (Directive 2001/37/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 June 2001 on the approximation of the laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the Member States concerning the manufacture, presentation and sale of tobacco products [4]).[1]  OJ L 298, 17.10.1989, p. 23.[2]  OJ L 202, 30.7.1997, p. 60.[3]  OJ L 152, 20.6.2003, p. 16.[4]  OJ L 194, 18.7.2001, p. 26.The non-binding legislation addresses, inter alia, sales to children and adolescents; other forms of advertising and sponsorship of tobacco products; disclosure of information concerning the expenditure incurred by manufacturers, importers and large-scale traders in tobacco products on advertising, marketing, sponsorship and promotion campaigns not prohibited under national or Community legislation; smoking cessation; as well as protection from exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (Council Recommendation 2003/54/EC of 2 December 2002 on the prevention of smoking and on initiatives to improve tobacco control [5]).[5]  OJ L 22, 25.1.2003, p. 31.STATUS OF THE COMMUNITY WITHIN THE CONVENTIONPursuant to Article 35 of the Convention, regional economic integration organisations can become Parties to the Convention. The Community already expressed its intention to become a Party by signing the Convention on 16 June 2003, in accordance with Decision XX/XX/EC of the Council of 2 June 2003.The Community will be a member in its own right of the Conference of the Parties established by the Convention. However, as some of the issues covered by the Convention fall outside the scope of exclusive Community's competence, the Community will be required to declare the extent of its competencies with respect to the matters governed by the Convention. The Community's competencies, which are defined in Annex II to the Decision, stem from the provisions already adopted by the Community laying down common rules in areas covered by the Convention.FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONSAs a Party to the Convention, the Community will be bound to participate in financing the activities of the Conference of the Parties, including any subsidiary body it may establish, and the functioning of the Secretariat of the Convention.The exact amount of the financial contribution of the Community is not known at present. The estimation of the costs in the Financial Statement is based on existing comparable international agreements concluded by the Community. This is best estimation available at present. The final financial implications are subject to the negotiations at the first meeting of the Conference of the Parties.Furthermore, the timing as from when this contribution will be required is uncertain, as it will depend on the date of entry into force of the Convention. This will take place only on the ninetieth day following the date of deposit of the fortieth instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval, formal confirmation or accession with the Depositary.CONCLUSIONIn accordance with Article 300(2) and Article 300(3) of the EC Treaty, the conclusion of international agreements will be decided on by the Council, acting on a proposal from the Commission, after consulting the European Parliament. Considering that the Convention clearly pursues the attainment of public health, as set out in Article 152 of the EC Treaty, combined with the fact that existing Community legislation in the field of tobacco control is mainly based on Articles 95 and 152, and given furthermore that the Convention will have an influence on the regulation of international trade in tobacco products, the Council Decision should be based on Articles 95, 133 and 152 in conjunction with Article 300(2) and Article 300(3).2003/0316 (CNS)Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION concerning the conclusion of the World Health Organisation Framework Convention on Tobacco ControlTHE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Articles 95, 133 and 152, in conjunction with the first sentence of the first subparagraph of Article 300 (2) and the first subparagraph of Article 300(3) thereof,Having regard to the proposal from the Commission [6],[6]  OJ C [...], [...], p. [...].Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament [7],[7]  OJ C [...], [...], p. [...].Whereas:(1) The Commission has negotiated on behalf of the Community a Framework Convention on Tobacco Control under the auspices of the World Health Organisation.(2) This Convention has been signed, on behalf of the European Community, on 16 June 2003 subject to its possible conclusion at a later date, in accordance with Decision XX/XX/EC of the Council of 2 June 2003 [8];[8]  OJ C [...], [...], p. [...].(3) This Convention should be approved,HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:Article 1The World Health Organisation Framework Convention on Tobacco Control is hereby approved on behalf of the Community.The text of the Convention is set out as Annex 1.Article 2The President of the Council is hereby authorized to designate the person empowered to deposit on behalf of the European Community the act of approval provided for in Article 35 of the Convention, in order to express the consent of the Community to be bound and to make the declaration contained in Annex II.Done at Brussels, [...]For the CouncilThe PresidentANNEX IWorld Health Organisation Framework Convention on Tobacco ControlANNEX IIDeclaration made by the European Community pursuant to Article 35(3) of the World Health Organisation Framework Convention on Tobacco ControlThe European Community declares that, in accordance with the provisions of the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular its Articles 3(1)(p) and 152, it is competent to adopt measures, which complement the national policies of its Member States, directed towards improving public health, preventing human illness and diseases, and obviating sources of danger to human health.The current members of the Community are the Kingdom of Belgium, the Kingdom of Denmark, the Federal Republic of Germany, the Hellenic Republic, the Kingdom of Spain, the French Republic, Ireland, the Italian Republic, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Republic of Austria, the Portuguese Republic, the Republic of Finland, the Kingdom of Sweden and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.The Community competence exists in areas already covered by Community legislation. The Community acts listed below are illustrative of the Community's sphere of competence in accordance with the provisions of the Treaty establishing the European Community.The exercise of competence that Member States have transferred to the Community by virtue of the Treaties is, by its very nature, bound to continuously evolve. Therefore in this regard, the Community reserves its right to issue further declarations in the future.List of legislative acts and Community programmes contributing to promoting tobacco controlCouncil Directive 89/552/EC of 3 October 1989 on the co-ordination of certain provisions laid down by law, regulation or administrative action in Member States concerning the pursuit of television broadcasting activities (OJ L 298, 17.10.1989, p. 23), as amended by Directive 97/36/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 June 1997 (OJ L 202, 30.7.1997, p. 60).Directive 2001/37/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 June 2001 on the approximation of the laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the Member States concerning the manufacture, presentation and sale of tobacco products (OJ L 194, 18.7.2001, p. 26).[Council Regulation (EEC) No 2075/92 of 30 June 1992 on the common organisation of the market in raw tobacco (OJ L 215, 30.7.1992, p. 70, last amended by Council Regulation (EC) No 546/2002 of 25 March 2002 fixing the premiums and guarantee thresholds for leaf tobacco by variety group and Member State for the 2002, 2003 and 2004 harvests and amending Regulation (EEC) No 2075/92 (OJ L 84 of 28 March 2002, p. 4).][Decision No 1786/2002/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 September 2002 adopting a programme of Community action in the field of public health (2003-2008) (OJ L 271 of 9.10.2002, p. 1).][Community action in the field of public health (2003-2008) - Work plan 2003 (OJ C 62 of 15.3.2003, p.21).][Commission Regulation (EC) No 2182/2002 of 6 December 2002 laying down detailed rules for the application of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2075/92 with regard to the Community Tobacco Fund (OJ L 331 , 7.12.2002, p. 16).]Directive 2003/33/EC of 26 May 2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the approximation of the laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the Member States relating to the advertising and sponsorship of tobacco products (OJ L 152, 20.6.2003, p. 16).LEGISLATIVE FINANCIAL STATEMENTPolicy area(s): Health and consumer protectionActivit(y/ies): Public HealthTitle of action: Proposal for a Council Decision concerning the conclusion of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control1. BUDGET LINE(S) + HEADING(S)Budget lines to consider :* ABB 17 01 01 Expenditure related to staff in active employment of policy area Health and consumer protection* ABB 17 01 02 11 : Other management expenditure* ABB 17 03 : Public Health2. OVERALL FIGURES2.1. Total allocation for action (Part B): 1 Mio EUR2.2. Period of application:From the date the Convention enters into force. It enters into force on the ninetieth day following the date of deposit of the fortieth instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval, formal confirmation or accession with the Depositary.2.3. Overall multiannual estimate of expenditure:(a) Schedule of commitment appropriations/payment appropriations (financial intervention) (see point 6.1.1)EUR million (to three decimal places)&gt;TABLE POSITION&gt;(b) Technical and administrative assistance and support expenditure(see p&gt;TABLE POSITION&gt;oint 6.1.2)&gt;TABLE POSITION&gt;(c) Overall financial impact of human resources and other administrative expenditure (see points 7.2 and 7.3)&gt;TABLE POSITION&gt;&gt;TABLE POSITION&gt;2.4. Compatibility with financial programming and financial perspectiveProposal is compatible with existing financial programming.[X ] Proposal will entail reprogramming of the relevant heading in the financial perspective.Proposal may require application of the provisions of the Interinstitutional Agreement.2.5. Financial impact on revenue: [9][9]  For further information, see separate explanatory note.[X] Proposal has no financial implications (involves technical aspects regarding implementation of a measure)3. BUDGET CHARACTERISTICS&gt;TABLE POSITION&gt;4. LEGAL BASISArticle 152 in conjunction with Art. 300 of the Treaty5. DESCRIPTION AND GROUNDS5.1. Need for Community intervention  [10][10]  For further information, see separate explanatory note.The development of a WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and related protocols was seen as an effective way of increasing international co-operation in the field of public health protection, as provided for in Article 152(3) of the EC Treaty, while at the same time ensuring that existing Community initiatives were respected and integrated at international level.According to a joint statement of the Council and the Commission entered in the Council minutes, the Negotiating Directives covered only matters falling within the sphere of Community competence under Articles 95 and 152 of the Treaty. The negotiating Directives were reviewed by the Council on 24 April 2001, with the aim of extending the Commission's authorisation to include negotiation on behalf of the Community on matters within the Community field of competence which do not fall under Articles 95 and 152, including matters which require unanimity in the Council.5.1.1. Objectives pursuedThe main objective of the Convention is the promotion of public health in a global context. This is in line with the EC Treaty, especially Article 152, which imposes upon the Community the obligation to act towards improving public health and urges the Community and the Member States to foster co-operation with third countries and the competent international organisations in the sphere of public health.5.1.2. Measures taken in connection with ex ante evaluationNot applicable5.1.3. Measures taken following ex post evaluationNot applicable5.2. Action envisaged and budget intervention arrangementsNot applicable5.3. Methods of implementationNot applicable6. FINANCIAL IMPACT6.1. Total financial impact on Part B - 1 MEUR6.1.1. Financial interventionCommitments (in EUR million to three decimal places)&gt;TABLE POSITION&gt;6.1.2. Technical and administrative assistance, support expenditure and IT expenditure (commitment appropriations)Not applicable6.2. Calculation of costs by measure envisaged in Part B (over the entire programming period) [11][11]  For further information, see separate explanatory note.The estimation of the costs, 200 000 euros annually, is based on existing comparable international agreements concluded by the Community. This is best estimation available at present. The final financial implications are subject to the negotiations at the first meeting of the Conference of the Parties.7. IMPACT ON STAFF AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENDITURE7.1. Impact on human resources&gt;TABLE POSITION&gt;7.2. Overall financial impact of human resources&gt;TABLE POSITION&gt;The amounts are total expenditure for twelve months.7.3. Other administrative expenditure deriving from the action&gt;TABLE POSITION&gt;1 Based on the standard cost used in the Commission (800 EUR for travel and 150 e for per-diem) : 950 EUR x 5 = 4 750 EURThe amounts are total expenditure for twelve months.1 Specify the type of committee and the group to which it belongs.&gt;TABLE POSITION&gt;All administrative and Human Resources requirements will be covered from within the Budget allocates to the managing DG in the framework of the annual allocation procedure.8. FOLLOW-UP AND EVALUATION8.1. Follow-up arrangementsMinutes of each meeting are forecasted.8.2. Arrangements and schedule for the planned evaluationId. 8.1.9. ANTI-FRAUD MEASURESThe secretaries of the Committees will certify participation of members or experts in meetings.&gt;REFERENCE TO A GRAPHIC&gt;WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION INTERGOVERNMENTAL NEGOTIATING BODY ON THE FRAMEWORK CONVENTION1. ON TOBACCO CONTROL2. SIXTH SESSIONAgenda item 328 February 2003Draft WHO framework convention ontobacco controlPreambleThe Parties to this Convention,Determined to give priority to their right to protect public health,Recognizing that the spread of the tobacco epidemic is a global problem with serious consequences for public health that calls for the widest possible international cooperation and the participation of all countries in an effective, appropriate and comprehensive international response,Reflecting the concern of the international community about the devastating worldwide health, social, economic and environmental consequences of tobacco consumption and exposure to tobacco smoke,Seriously concerned about the increase in the worldwide consumption and production of cigarettes and other tobacco products, particularly in developing countries, as well as about the burden this places on families, on the poor, and on national health systems,Recognizing that scientific evidence has unequivocally established that tobacco consumption and exposure to tobacco smoke cause death, disease and disability, and that there is a time lag between the exposure to smoking and the other uses of tobacco products and the onset of tobacco-related diseases,Recognizing also that cigarettes and some other products containing tobacco are highly engineered so as to create and maintain dependence, and that many of the compounds they contain and the smoke they produce are pharmacologically active, toxic, mutagenic and carcinogenic, and that tobacco dependence is separately classified as a disorder in major international classifications of diseases,Acknowledging that there is clear scientific evidence that prenatal exposure to tobacco smoke causes adverse health and developmental conditions for children,Deeply concerned about the escalation in smoking and other forms of tobacco consumption by children and adolescents worldwide, particularly smoking at increasingly early ages,Alarmed by the increase in smoking and other forms of tobacco consumption by women and young girls worldwide and keeping in mind the need for full participation of women at all levels of policy-making and implementation and the need for gender-specific tobacco control strategies,Deeply concerned about the high levels of smoking and other forms of tobacco consumption by indigenous peoples,Seriously concerned about the impact of all forms of advertising, promotion and sponsorship limed at encouraging the use of tobacco products,Recognizing that cooperative action is necessary to eliminate all forms of illicit trade in cigarettes and other tobacco products, including smuggling, illicit manufacturing and counterfeiting,Acknowledging that tobacco control at all levels and particularly in developing countries and in countries with economies in transition requires sufficient financial and technical resources commensurate with the current and projected need for tobacco control activities,Recognizing the need to develop appropriate mechanisms to address the long-term social and economic implications of successful tobacco demand reduction strategies,Mindful of the social and economic difficulties that tobacco control programmes may engender n the medium and long term in some developing countries and countries with economies in transition, and recognizing their need for technical and financial assistance in the context of nationally developed strategies for sustainable development,Conscious of the valuable work being conducted by many States on tobacco control and commending the leadership of the World Health Organization as well as the efforts of other organizations and bodies of the United Nations system and other international and regional intergovernmental organizations in developing measures on tobacco control,Emphasizing the special contribution of nongovernmental organizations and other members of civil society not affiliated with the tobacco industry, including health professional bodies, women's, youth, environmental and consumer groups, and academic and health care institutions, to tobacco control efforts nationally and internationally and the vital importance of their participation in national and international tobacco control efforts,Recognizing the need to be alert to any efforts by the tobacco industry to undermine or subvert tobacco control efforts and the need to be informed of activities of the tobacco industry that have a negative impact on tobacco control efforts,Recalling Article 12 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 16 December 1966, which states that it is the right of everyone to enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health,Recall also the preamble of the Constitution of the World Health Organization, which states that the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health is one of the fundamental rights of every human being without distinction of race, religion, political belief, economic or social condition,Determined to promote measures of tobacco control based on current and relevant scientific, technical and economic considerations,Recalling that the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 18 December 1979, provides that States Parties to that Convention shall take appropriate measures to eliminate discrimination against women in the field of health care,Recalling further that the Convention on the Rights of the Child, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 20 November 1989, provides that States Parties to that Convention recognize the right of the child to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health,Have agreed, as follows:PART I: INTRODUCTIONArticle 1Use of termsFor the purposes of this Convention:(a) "illicit trade" means any practice or conduct prohibited by law and which relates to production, shipment, receipt, possession, distribution, sale or purchase including any practice or conduct intended to facilitate such activity;(b) "regional economic integration organization" means an organization that is composed of several sovereign states, and to which its Member States have transferred competence over a range of matters, including the authority to make decisions binding on its Member States in respect of those matters;  [12][12]  Where appropriate, national will refer equally to regional economic integration organizations.(c) "tobacco advertising and promotion" means any form of commercial communication, recommendation or action with the aim, effect or likely effect of promoting a tobacco product or tobacco use either directly or indirectly;(d) "tobacco control" means a range of supply, demand and harm reduction strategies that aim to improve the health of a population by eliminating or reducing their consumption of tobacco products and exposure to tobacco smoke;(e) "tobacco industry" means tobacco manufacturers, wholesale distributors and importers of tobacco products;(f) "tobacco products" means products entirely or partly made of the leaf tobacco as raw material which are manufactured to be used for smoking, sucking, chewing or snuffing;(g) "tobacco sponsorship" means any form of contribution to any event, activity or individual with the aim, effect or likely effect of promoting a tobacco product or tobacco use either directly or indirectly;Article 2Relationship between this Convention and other agreements and legal instruments1. In order to better protect human health, Parties are encouraged to implement measures beyond those required by this Convention and its protocols, and nothing in these instruments shall prevent a Party from imposing stricter requirements that are consistent with their provisions and are in accordance with international law.2. The provisions of the Convention and its protocols shall in no way affect the right of Parties to enter into bilateral or multilateral agreements, including regional or subregional agreements, on issues relevant or additional to the Convention and its protocols, provided that such agreements are compatible with their obligations under the Convention and its protocols. The Parties concerned shall communicate such agreements to the Conference of the Parties through the Secretariat.PART II: OBJECTIVE, GUIDING PRINCIPLES AND GENERAL OBLIGATIONSArticle 3ObjectiveThe objective of this Convention and its protocols is to protect present and future generations from the devastating health, social, environmental and economic consequences of tobacco consumption and exposure to tobacco smoke by providing a framework for tobacco control measures to be implemented by the Parties at the national, regional and international levels in order to reduce continually and substantially the prevalence of tobacco use and exposure to tobacco smoke.Article 4Guiding principlesTo achieve the objective of this Convention and its protocols and to implement its provisions, the Parties shall be guided, inter alia, by the principles set out below:1. Every person should be informed of the health consequences, addictive nature and mortal threat posed by tobacco consumption and exposure to tobacco smoke and effective legislative, executive, administrative or other measures should be contemplated at the appropriate governmental level to protect all persons from exposure to tobacco smoke.2. Strong political commitment is necessary to develop and support, at the national, regional and international levels, comprehensive multisectoral measures and coordinated responses, taking into consideration:(a) the need to take measures to protect all persons from exposure to tobacco smoke;(b) the need to take measures to prevent the initiation, to promote and support cessation, and to decrease the consumption of tobacco products in any form;(c) the need to take measures to promote the participation of indigenous individuals and communities in the development, implementation and evaluation of tobacco control programmes that are socially and culturally appropriate to their needs and perspectives; and(d) the need to take measures to address gender-specific risks when developing tobacco control strategies.3. International cooperation, particularly transfer of technology, knowledge and financial -assistance and provision of related expertise, to establish and implement effective tobacco control programmes, taking into consideration local culture, as well as social, economic, political and legal factors, is an important part of the Convention.4. Comprehensive multisectoral measures and responses to reduce consumption of all tobacco products at the national, regional and international levels are essential so as to prevent, in accordance with public health principles, the incidence of diseases, premature disability and mortality due to tobacco consumption and exposure to tobacco smoke.5. Issues relating to liability, as determined by each Party within its jurisdiction, are an important part of comprehensive tobacco control.6. The importance of technical and financial assistance to aid the economic transition of tobacco growers and workers whose livelihoods are seriously affected as a consequence of tobacco control programmes in developing country Parties, as well as Parties with economies in transition, should be recognized and addressed in the context of nationally developed strategies for sustainable development.7. The participation of civil society is essential in achieving the objective of the Convention and its protocols.Article 5General obligations1. Each Party shall develop, implement, periodically update and review comprehensive multisectoral national tobacco control strategies, plans and programmes in accordance with this Convention and the protocols to which it is a Party.2. Towards this end, each Party shall, in accordance with its capabilities:(a) establish or reinforce and finance a national coordinating mechanism or focal points for tobacco control; and(b) adopt and implement effective legislative, executive, administrative and/or other measures and cooperate, as appropriate, with other Parties in developing appropriate policies for preventing and reducing tobacco consumption, nicotine addiction and exposure to tobacco smoke.3. In setting and implementing their public health policies with respect to tobacco control, Parties shall act to protect these policies from commercial and other vested interests of the tobacco industry in accordance with national law.4. The Parties shall cooperate in the formulation of proposed measures, procedures and guidelines for the implementation of the Convention and the protocols to which they are Parties.5. The Parties shall cooperate, as appropriate, with competent international and regional intergovernmental organizations and other bodies to achieve the objectives of the Convention and the protocols to which they are Parties.6. The Parties shall, within means and resources at their disposal, cooperate to raise financial resources for effective implementation of the Convention through bilateral and multilateral funding mechanisms.PART III: MEASURES RELATING TO THE REDUCTIONOF DEMAND FOR TOBACCOArticle 6Price and tax measures to reduce the demand for tobacco1. The Parties recognize that price and tax measures are an effective and important means of reducing tobacco consumption by various segments of the population, in particular young persons.2. Without prejudice to the sovereign right of the Parties to determine and establish their taxation policies, each Party should take account of its national health objectives concerning tobacco control and adopt or maintain, as appropriate, measures which may include:(a) implementing tax policies and, where appropriate, price policies, on tobacco products so as to contribute to the health objectives aimed at reducing tobacco consumption; and(b) prohibiting or restricting, as appropriate, sales to and/or importations by international travellers of tax and duty-free tobacco products.3. The Parties shall provide rates of taxation for tobacco products and trends in tobacco consumption in their periodic reports to the Conference of the Parties, in accordance with Article 21.Article 7Non-price measures to reduce the demand for tobaccoThe Parties recognize that comprehensive non-price measures are an effective and important means of reducing tobacco consumption. Each Party shall adopt and implement effective legislative, executive, administrative or other measures necessary to implement its obligations pursuant to Articles 8 to 13 and shall cooperate, as appropriate, with each other directly or through competent international bodies with a view to their implementation. The Conference of the Parties shall propose appropriate guidelines for the implementation of the provisions of these Articles.Article 8Protection from exposure to tobacco smoke1. Parties recognize that scientific evidence has unequivocally established that exposure to tobacco smoke causes death, disease and disability.2. Each Party shall adopt and implement in areas of existing national jurisdiction as determined by national law and actively promote at other jurisdictional levels the adoption and implementation of effective legislative, executive, administrative and/or other measures, providing for protection from exposure to tobacco smoke in indoor workplaces, public transport, indoor public places and, as appropriate, other public places.Article 9Regulation of the contents of tobacco productsThe Conference of the Parties, in consultation with competent international bodies, shall propose guidelines for testing and measuring the contents and emissions of tobacco products, and for the regulation of these contents and emissions. Each Party shall, where approved by competent national authorities, adopt and implement effective legislative, executive and administrative or other measures for such testing and measuring, and for such regulation.Article 10Regulation of tobacco product disclosuresEach Party shall, in accordance with its national law, adopt and implement effective legislative, executive, administrative or other measures requiring manufacturers and importers of tobacco products to disclose to governmental authorities information about the contents and emissions of tobacco products. Each Party shall further adopt and implement effective measures for public disclosure of information about the toxic constituents of the tobacco products and the emissions that they may produce.Article 11Packaging and labelling of tobacco products1. Each Party shall, within a period of three years after entry into force of this Convention for that Party, adopt and implement, in accordance with its national law, effective measures to ensure that:(a) tobacco product packaging and labelling do not promote a tobacco product by any means that are false, misleading, deceptive or likely to create an erroneous impression about its characteristics, health effects, hazards or emissions, including any term, descriptor, trademark, figurative or any other sign that directly or indirectly creates the false impression that a particular tobacco product is less harmful than other tobacco products. These may include terms such as "low tar", "light", "ultra-light", or "mild";(b) each unit packet and package of tobacco products and any outside packaging and labelling of such products also carry health warnings describing the harmful effects of tobacco use, and may include other appropriate messages. These warnings and messages:(i) shall be approved by the competent national authority,(ii) shall be rotating,(iii) shall be large, clear, visible and legible,(iv) should be 50% or more of the principal display areas but shall be no less than 30%  of the principal display areas,(v) may be in the form of or include pictures or pictograms.2. Each unit packet and package of tobacco products and any outside packaging and labelling of such products shall, in addition to the warnings specified in paragraph 1 (b) of this Article, contain information on relevant constituents and emissions of tobacco products as defined by national authorities.3. Each Party shall require that the warnings and other textual information specified in paragraphs 1 (b) and paragraph 2 of this Article will appear on each unit packet and package of tobacco products and any outside packaging and labelling of such products in its principal language or languages.4. For the purposes of this Article, the term "outside packaging and labelling" in relation to tobacco products applies to any packaging and labelling used in the retail sale of the product.Article 12Education, communication, training and public awarenessEach Party shall promote and strengthen public awareness of tobacco control issues, using all available communication tools, as appropriate. Towards this end, each Party shall adopt and implement effective legislative, executive, administrative or other measures to promote:(a) broad access to effective and comprehensive educational and public awareness programmes on the health risks including the addictive characteristics of tobacco consuI:1ption and exposure to tobacco smoke;(b) public awareness about the health risks of tobacco consumption and exposure to tobacco smoke, and about the benefits of the cessation of tobacco use and tobacco-free lifestyles as specified in Article 14.2;(c) public access, in accordance with national law, to a wide range of information on the tobacco industry as relevant to the objective of this Convention;(d) effective and appropriate training or sensitization and awareness programmes on tobacco control addressed to persons such as health workers, community workers, social workers, media professionals, educators, decision-makers, administrators and other concerned persons;(e) awareness and participation of public and private agencies and nongovernmental organizations not affiliated with the tobacco industry in developing and implementing intersectoral programmes and strategies for tobacco control; and(f) public awareness of and access to information regarding the adverse health, economic, and environmental consequences of tobacco production and consumption.Article 13Tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship1. Parties recognize that a comprehensive ban on advertising, promotion and sponsorship would ' reduce the consumption of tobacco products.2. Each Party shall, in accordance with its constitution or constitutional principles, undertake a comprehensive ban of all tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship. This shall include, subject to the legal environment and technical means available to that Party, a comprehensive ban on cross- border advertising, promotion and sponsorship originating from its territory. In this respect, within the period of five years after entry into force of this Convention for that Party, each Party shall undertake appropriate legislative, executive, administrative and/or other measures and report accordingly in conformity with Article 21.3. A Party that is not in a position to undertake a comprehensive ban due to its constitution or constitutional principles shall apply restrictions on all tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship. This shall include, subject to the legal environment and technical means available to that Party, restrictions or a comprehensive ban on advertising, promotion and sponsorship originating from its territory with cross-border effects. In this respect, each Party shall undertake appropriate legislative, executive, administrative and/or other measures and report accordingly in conformity with Article 21.4. As a minimum, and in accordance with its constitution or constitutional principles, each Party shall:(a) prohibit all forms of tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship that promote a tobacco product by any means that are false, misleading or deceptive or likely to create an erroneous impression about its characteristics, health effects, hazards or emissions;(b) require that health or other appropriate warnings or messages accompany all tobacco advertising and, as appropriate, promotion and sponsorship;(c) restrict the use of direct or indirect incentives that encourage the purchase of tobacco products by the public;(d) require, if it does not have a comprehensive ban, the disclosure to relevant governmental authorities of expenditures by the tobacco industry on advertising, promotion and sponsorship not yet prohibited. Those authorities may decide to make those figures available, subject to national law, to the public and to the Conference of the Parties, pursuant to Article 21;(e) undertake a comprehensive ban or, in the case of a Party that is not in a position to undertake a comprehensive ban due to its constitution or constitutional principles, restrict tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship on radio, television, print media and, as appropriate, other media, such as the internet, within a period of five years; and(f) prohibit, or in the case of a Party that is not in a position to prohibit due to its constitution or constitutional principles restrict, tobacco sponsorship of international events, activities and/or participants therein.5. Parties are encouraged to implement measures beyond the obligations set out in paragraph 3.6. Parties shall cooperate in the development of technologies and other means necessary to facilitate the elimination of cross-border advertising.7. Parties which have a ban on certain forms of tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship have the sovereign right to ban those forms of cross-border tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship entering their territory and to impose equal penalties as those applicable to domestic advertising, promotion and sponsorship originating from their territory in accordance with their national law. This paragraph does not endorse or approve of any particular penalty.8. Parties shall consider the elaboration of a protocol setting out appropriate measures that require international collaboration for a comprehensive ban on cross-border advertising, promotion and sponsorship.Article 14Demand reduction measures concerning tobacco dependence and cessation1. Each Party shall develop and disseminate appropriate, comprehensive and integrated guidelines based on scientific evidence and best practices, taking into account national circumstances and priorities, and shall take effective measures to promote cessation of tobacco use and adequate treatment for tobacco dependence.2. Towards this end, each Party shall endeavour to: .(a) design and implement effective programmes aimed at promoting the cessation of tobacco use, in such locations as educational institutions, health care facilities, workplaces and sporting environments;(b) include diagnosis and treatment of tobacco dependence and counselling services on cessation of tobacco use in national health and education programmes, plans and strategies, with the participation of health workers, community workers and social workers as appropriate;(c) establish in health care facilities and rehabilitation centres programmes for diagnosing, counselling, preventing and treating tobacco dependence; and(d) collaborate with other Parties to facilitate accessibility and affordability for treatment of tobacco dependence including pharmaceutical products pursuant to Article 22. Such products and their constituents may include medicines, products used to administer medicines and diagnostics when appropriate.PART IV: MEASURES RELATING TO THEREDUCTION OF THE SUPPLY OF TOBACCOArticle 15Illicit trade in tobacco products1. The Parties recognize that the elimination of all forms of illicit trade in tobacco products, including smuggling, illicit manufacturing and counterfeiting, and the development and implementation of related national law, in addition to subregional, regional and global agreements, are essential components of tobacco control.2. Each Party shall adopt and implement effective legislative, executive, administrative or other measures to ensure that all unit packets and packages of tobacco products and any outside packaging of such products are marked to assist Parties in determining the origin of tobacco products, and in accordance with national law and relevant bilateral or multilateral agreements, assist Parties in determining the point of diversion and monitor, document and control the movement of tobacco products and their legal status. In addition, each Party shall:(a) require that unit packets and packages of tobacco products for retail and wholesale use that are sold on its domestic market carry the statement: "Sales only allowed in (insert name of the country, subnational, regional or federal unit)" or carry any other effective marking indicating the final destination or which would assist authorities in determining whether the product is legally for sale on the domestic market; and(b) consider, as appropriate, developing a practical tracking and tracing regime that would further secure the distribution system and assist in the investigation of illicit trade.3. Each Party shall require that the packaging information or marking specified in paragraph 2 of this Article shall be presented in legible form and/or appear in its principal language or languages.4. With a view to eliminating illicit trade in tobacco products, each Party shall:(a) monitor and collect data on cross-border trade in tobacco products, including illicit trade, and exchange information among customs, tax and other authorities, as appropriate, and in accordance with national law and relevant applicable bilateral or multilateral agreements;(b) enact or strengthen legislation, with appropriate penalties and remedies, against illicit trade in tobacco products, including counterfeit and contraband cigarettes;(c) take appropriate steps to ensure that all confiscated manufacturing equipment, counterfeit and contraband cigarettes and other tobacco products are destroyed, using environmentally- friendly methods where feasible, or disposed of in accordance with national law;(d) adopt and implement measures to monitor, document and control the storage and distribution of tobacco products held or moving under suspension of taxes or duties within its jurisdiction; and(e) adopt measures as appropriate to enable the confiscation of proceeds derived from the illicit trade in tobacco products.5. Information collected pursuant to subparagraphs 4(a) and 4(d) of this Article shall, as appropriate, be provided in aggregate form by the Parties in their periodic reports to the Conference of the Parties, in accordance with Article 21.6. The Parties shall, as appropriate and in accordance with national law, promote cooperation between national agencies, as well as relevant regional and international intergovernmental organizations as it relates to investigations, prosecutions and proceedings, with a view to eliminating illicit trade in tobacco products. Special emphasis shall be placed on cooperation at regional and subregional levels to combat illicit trade of tobacco products.7. Each Party shall endeavour to adopt and implement further measures including licensing, where appropriate, to control or regulate the production and distribution of tobacco products in order to prevent illicit trade.Article 16Sales to and by minors1. Each Party shall adopt and implement effective legislative, executive, administrative or other measures at the appropriate government level to prohibit the sales of tobacco products to persons under the age set by national law or eighteen. These measures may include:(a) requiring that all sellers of tobacco products place a clear and prominent indicator inside their point of sale about the prohibition of tobacco sales to minors and, in case of doubt, request that each tobacco purchaser provide appropriate evidence of having reached full legal age;(b) banning the sale of tobacco products in any manner by which they are directly accessible, such as store shelves; .(c) prohibiting the manufacture and sale of sweets, snacks, toys or any other objects in the form of tobacco products which appeal to minors; and(d) ensuring that tobacco vending machines under its jurisdiction are not accessible to minors and do not promote the sale of tobacco products to minors.2. Each Party shall prohibit or promote the prohibition of the distribution of free tobacco products to the public and especially minors.3. Each Party shall endeavour to prohibit the sale of cigarettes individually or in small packets which increase the affordability of such products to minors.4. The Parties recognize that in order to increase their effectiveness, measures to prevent tobacco product sales to minors should, where appropriate, be implemented in conjunction with other provisions contained in this Convention.5. When signing, ratifying, accepting, approving or acceding to the Convention or at any time thereafter, a Party may, by means of a binding written declaration, indicate its commitment to prohibit the introduction of tobacco vending machines within its jurisdiction or, as appropriate, to a total ban on tobacco vending machines. The declaration made pursuant to this Article shall be circulated by the Depositary to all Parties to the Convention.6. Each Party shall adopt and implement effective legislative, executive, administrative or other measures, including penalties against sellers and distributors, in order to ensure compliance with the obligations contained in paragraphs 1-5 of this Article.7. Each Party should, as appropriate, adopt and implement effective legislative, executive, administrative or other measures to prohibit the sales of tobacco products by persons under the age set by domestic law, national law or 18.Article 17Provision of support for economically viable alternative activitiesParties shall, in cooperation with each other and with competent international and regional intergovernmental organizations, promote, as appropriate, economically viable alternatives for tobacco workers, growers and, as the case may be, individual sellers.PART V: PROTECTION OF THE ENVIRONMENTArticle 18Protection of the environment and the health of personsIn carrying out their obligations under this Convention, the Parties agree to have due regard to the protection of the environment and the health of persons in relation to the environment in respect of tobacco cultivation and manufacture within their respective territories.3. PART VI: QUESTIONS RELATED TO LIABILITYArticle 19Liability1. For the purpose of tobacco control, the Parties shall consider taking legislative action or promoting their existing laws, where necessary, to deal with criminal and civil liability, including compensation where appropriate.2. Parties shall cooperate with each other in exchanging infoTn1ation through the Conference of the Parties in accordance with Article 21 including:(a) infoTn1ation on the health effects of the consumption of tobacco products and exposure to tobacco smoke in accordance with Article 20.3(a);(b) infoTn1ation on legislation and regulations in force as well as pertinent jurisprudence.3. The Parties shall, as appropriate and mutually agreed, within the limits of national legislation, policies, legal practices and applicable existing treaty arrangements, afford one another assistance in legal proceedings relating to civil and criminal liability consistent with this Convention.4. The Convention shall in no way affect or limit any rights of access of the Parties to each other's courts where such rights exist.5. The Conference of the Parties may consider, if possible, at an early stage, taking account of the work being done in relevant international fora, issues related to liability including appropriate international approaches to these issues and appropriate means to support, upon request, the Parties in their legislative and other activities in accordance with this Article.4. PART VII: SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL COOPERATIONAND COMMUNICATION OF INFORMATIONArticle 20Research, surveillance and exchange of information1. The Parties undertake to develop and promote national research and to coordinate research programmes at the regional and international levels in the field of tobacco control. Towards this end, each Party shall:(a) initiate and cooperate in, directly or through competent international and regional intergovernmental organizations and other bodies, the conduct of research and scientific assessments, and in so doing promote and encourage research that addresses the determinants and consequences of tobacco consumption and exposure to tobacco smoke as well as research for identification of alternative crops; and(b) promote and strengthen, with the support of competent international and regional intergovernmental organizations and other bodies, training and support for all those engaged in tobacco control activities, including research, implementation and evaluation.2. The Parties shall establish, as appropriate, programmes for national, regional and global surveillance of the magnitude, patterns, determinants and consequences of tobacco consumption and exposure to tobacco smoke. Towards this end, the Parties should integrate tobacco surveillance programmes into national, regional and global health surveillance programmes so that data are comparable and can be analysed at the regional and international levels, as appropriate.3. Parties recognize the importance of financial and technical assistance from international and regional intergovernmental organizations and other bodies. Each Party shall endeavour to:(a) establish progressively a national system for the epidemiological surveillance of tobacco consumption and related social, economic and health indicators;(b) cooperate with competent international and regional intergovernmental organizations and other bodies, including governmental and nongovernmental agencies, in regional and global tobacco surveillance and exchange of information on the indicators specified in paragraph 3(a) of this Article; and(c) cooperate with the World Health Organization in the development of general guidelines or procedures for defining the collection, analysis and dissemination of tobacco-related surveillance data.4. The Parties shall, subject to national law, promote and facilitate the exchange of publicly available scientific, technical, socioeconomic, commercial and legal information, as well as information regarding practices of the tobacco industry and the cultivation of tobacco, which is relevant to this Convention, and in so doing shall take into account and address the special needs of developing country Parties and Parties with economies in transition. Each Party shall endeavour to:(a) progressively establish and maintain an updated database of laws and regulations on tobacco control and, as appropriate, information about their enforcement, as well as pertinent jurisprudence, and cooperate in the development of programmes for regional and global tobacco control;(b) progressively establish and maintain updated data from national surveillance programmes in accordance with paragraph 3(a) of this Article; and(c) cooperate with competent international organizations to progressively establish and maintain a global system to regularly collect and disseminate information on tobacco production, manufacture and the activities of the tobacco industry which have an impact on the Convention or national tobacco control activities.5. Parties should cooperate in regional and international intergovernmental organizations and financial and development institutions of which they are members, to promote and encourage provision of technical and financial resources to the Secretariat to assist developing country Parties and Parties with economies in transition to meet their commitments on research, surveillance and exchange of information.Article 21Reporting and exchange of information1. Each Party shall submit to the Conference of the Parties, through the Secretariat, periodic reports on its implementation of this Convention, which should include the following:(a) information on legislative, executive, administrative or other measures taken to implement the Convention;(b) information, as appropriate, on any constraints or barriers encountered in its implementation of the Convention, and on the measures taken to overcome these barriers;(c) information, as appropriate, on financial and technical assistance provided or received for tobacco control activities;(d) information on surveillance and research as specified in Article 20; and (e) information specified in Articles 6.3,13.2,13.3, 13.4(d), 15.5 and 19.2.2. The frequency and format of such reports by all Parties shall be determined by the Conference of the Parties. Each Party shall make its initial report within two years of the entry into force of the Convention for that Party.3. The Conference of the Parties, pursuant to Articles 22 and 26, shall consider arrangements to assist developing country Parties and Parties with economies in transition, at their request, in meeting their obligations under this Article.4. The reporting and exchange of information under the Convention shall be subject to national law regarding confidentiality and privacy. The Parties shall protect, as mutually agreed, any confidential information that is exchanged.Article 22Cooperation in the scientific, technical, and legal fields and provision of related expertise1. The Parties shall cooperate directly or through competent international bodies to strengthen their capacity to fulfill the obligations arising from this Convention, taking into account the needs of developing country Parties and Parties with economies in transition. Such cooperation shall promote the transfer of technical, scientific and legal expertise and technology, as mutually agreed, to establish and strengthen national tobacco control strategies, plans and programmes aiming at, inter alia:(a) facilitation of the development, transfer and acquisition of technology, knowledge, skills, capacity and expertise related to tobacco control;(b) provision of technical, scientific, legal and other expertise to establish and strengthen national tobacco control strategies, plans and programmes, aiming at implementation of the . Convention through, inter alia:(i) assisting, upon request, in the development of a strong legislative foundation as well as technical programmes, including those on prevention of initiation, promotion of cessation and protection from exposure to tobacco smoke;(ii) assisting, as appropriate, tobacco workers in the development of appropriate economically and legally viable alternative livelihoods in an economically viable manner; and(iii) assisting, as appropriate, tobacco growers in shifting agricultural productibn to alternative crops in an economically viable manner;(c) support for appropriate training or sensitization programmes for appropriate personnel in accordance with Article 12;(d) provision, as appropriate, of the necessary material, equipment and supplies, as well as logistical support, for tobacco control strategies, plans and programmes;(e) identification of methods for tobacco control, including comprehensive treatment of nicotine addiction; and(f) promotion, as appropriate, of research to increase the affordability of comprehensive treatment of nicotine addiction.2. The Conference of the Parties shall promote and facilitate transfer of technical, scientific and legal expertise and technology with the financial support secured in accordance with Article 26.PART VIII: INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS AND FINANCIAL RESOURCESArticle 23Conference of the Parties1. A Conference of the Parties is hereby established. The first session of the Conference shall be convened by the World Health Organization not later than one year after the entry into force of this Convention. The Conference will determine the venue and timing of subsequent regular sessions at its first session.2. Extraordinary sessions of the Conference of the Parties shall be held at such other times as may be deemed necessary by the Conference, or at the written request of any Party, provided that, within six months of the request being communicated to them by the Secretariat of the Convention, it is supported by at least one-third of the Parties.3. The Conference of the Parties shall adopt by consensus its Rules of Procedure at its first session.4. The Conference of the Parties shall by consensus adopt financial rules for itself as well as governing the funding of any subsidiary bodies it may establish as well as financial provisions governing the functioning of the Secretariat. At each ordinary session, it shall adopt a budget for the financial period until the next ordinary session.5. The Conference of the Parties shall keep under regular review the implementation of the Convention and take the decisions necessary to promote its effective implementation and may adopt protocols, annexes and amendments to the Convention, in accordance with Articles 28, 29 and 33. Towards this end, it shall:(a) promote and facilitate the exchange of information pursuant to Articles 20 and 21;(b) promote and guide the development and periodic refinement of comparable methodologies for research and the collection of data, in addition to those provided for in Article 20, relevant to the implementation of the Convention; .(c) promote, as appropriate, the development, implementation and evaluation of strategies, plans, and programmes, as well as policies, legislation and other measures;(d) consider reports submitted by the Parties in accordance with Article 21 and adopt regular reports on the implementation of the Convention;(e) promote and facilitate the mobilization of financial resources for the implementation of the Convention in accordance with Article 26;(f) establish such subsidiary bodies as are necessary to achieve the objective of the Convention;(g) request, where appropriate, the services and cooperation of, and information provided by, competent and relevant organizations and bodies of the United Nations system and other international and regional intergovernmental organizations and nongovernmental organizations and bodies as a means of strengthening the implementation of the Convention; and(h) consider other action, as appropriate, for the achievement of the objective of the Convention in the light of experience gained in its implementation.6. The Conference of the Parties shall establish the criteria for the participation of observers at its proceedings.Article 24Secretariat1. The Conference of the Parties shall designate a permanent secretariat and make arrangements for its functioning. The Conference of the Parties shall endeavour to do so at its first session.2. Until such time as a permanent secretariat is designated and established, secretariat functions under this Convention shall be provided by the World Health Organization.3. Secretariat functions shall be:(a) to make arrangements for sessions of the Conference of the Parties and any subsidiary bodies and to provide them with services as required;(b) to transmit reports received by it pursuant to the Convention;(c) to provide support to the Parties, particularly developing country Parties and Parties with economies in transition, on request, in the compilation and communication of information required in accordance with the provisions of the Convention;(d) to prepare reports on its activities under the Convention under the guidance of the Conference of the Parties and submit them to the Conference of the Parties;(e) to ensure, under the guidance of the Conference of the Parties, the necessary coordination with the competent international and regional intergovernmental organizations and other bodies;(f) to enter, under the guidance of the Conference of the Parties, into such administrative or contractual arrangements as may be required for the effective discharge of its functions; and(g) to perform other secretariat functions specified by the Convention and by any of its protocols and such other functions as may be determined by the Conference of the Parties.Article 25Relations between the Conference of the Parties and intergovernmental organizationsIn order to provide technical and financial cooperation for achieving the objective of this Convention, the Conference of the Parties may request the cooperation of competent international and regional intergovernmental organizations including financial and development institutions.Article 26Financial resources1. The Parties recognize the important role that financial resources play in achieving the objective of this Convention.2. Each Party shall provide financial support in respect of its national activities intended to achieve the objective of the Convention, in accordance with its national plans, priorities and programmes.3. Parties shall promote, as appropriate, the utilization of bilateral, regional, subregional and other multilateral channels to provide funding for the development and strengthening of multisectoral comprehensive tobacco control programmes of developing country Parties and Parties with economies in transition. Accordingly, economically viable alternatives to tobacco production, including crop diversification should be addressed and supported in the context of nationally developed strategies of sustainable development.4. Parties represented in relevant regional and international intergovernmental organizations, and financial and development institutions shall encourage these entities to provide financial assistance for developing country Parties and for Parties with economies in transition to assist them in meeting their obligations under the Convention, without limiting the rights of participation within these organizations.5. The Parties agree that:(a) to assist Parties in meeting their obligations under the Convention, all relevant potential and existing resources, financial, technical, or otherwise, both public and private that are available for tobacco control activities, should be mobilized and utilized for the benefit of all Parties, especially developing countries and countries with economies in transition;(b) the Secretariat shall advise developing country Parties and Parties with economies in transition, upon request, on available sources of funding to facilitate the implementation of their obligations under the Convention;(c) the Conference of the Parties in its first session shall review existing and potential sources and mechanisms of assistance based on a study conducted by the Secretariat and other relevant information, and consider their adequacy; and(d) the results of this review shall be taken into account by the Conference of the Parties in determining the necessity to enhance existing mechanisms or to establish a voluntary global fund or other appropriate financial mechanisms to channel additional financial resources, as needed, to developing country Parties and Parties with economies in transition to assist them in meeting the objectives of the Convention.5. PART IX: SETTLEMENT OF DISPUTESArticle 27Settlement of disputes1. In the event of a dispute between two or more Parties concerning the interpretation or application of this Convention, the Parties concerned shall seek through diplomatic channels a settlement of the dispute through negotiation or any other peaceful means of their own choice, including good offices, mediation, or conciliation. Failure to reach agreement by good offices, mediation or conciliation shall not absolve parties to the dispute from the responsibility of continuing to seek to resolve it.2. When ratifying, accepting, approving, formally confirming or acceding to the Convention, or at any time thereafter, a State or regional economic integration organization may declare in writing to the Depositary that, for a dispute not resolved in accordance with paragraph 1 of this Article, it accepts, as compulsory, ad hoc arbitration in accordance with procedures to be adopted by consensus by the Conference of the Parties.3. The provisions of this Article shall apply with respect to any protocol as between the parties to the protocol, unless otherwise provided therein.PART X: DEVELOPMENT OF THE CONVENTIONArticle 28Amendments to this Convention1. Any Party may propose amendments to this Convention. Such amendments will be considered by the Conference of the Parties.2. Amendments to the Convention shall be adopted by the Conference of the Parties. The text of any proposed amendment to the Convention shall be communicated to the Parties by the Secretariat at least six months before the session at which it is proposed for adoption. The Secretariat shall also communicate proposed amendments to the signatories of the Convention and, for information, to the Depositary. ..3. The Parties shall make every effort to reach agreement by consensus on any proposed amendment to the Convention. If all efforts at consensus have been exhausted, and no agreement reached, the amendment shall as a last resort be adopted by a three-quarters majority vote of the Parties present and voting at the session. For purposes of this Article, Parties present and voting means Parties present and casting an affirmative or negative vote. Any adopted amendment shall be communicated by the Secretariat to the Depositary, who shall circulate it to all Parties for acceptance.4. Instruments of acceptance in respect of an amendment shall be deposited with the Depositary. An amendment adopted in accordance with paragraph 3 of this Article shall enter into force for those Parties having accepted it on the ninetieth day after the date of receipt by the Depositary of an instrument of acceptance by at least two-thirds of the Parties to the Convention.5. The amendment shall enter into force for any other Party on the ninetieth day after the date on which that Party deposits with the Depositary its instrument of acceptance of the said amendment.Article 29Adoption and amendment of annexes to this Convention1. Annexes to this Convention and amendments thereto shall be proposed, adopted and shall enter into force in accordance with the procedure set forth in Article 28.2. Annexes to the Convention shall form an integral part thereof and, unless otherwise expressly provided, a reference to the Convention constitutes at the same time a reference to any annexes thereto.3. Annexes shall be restricted to lists, forms and any other descriptive material relating to procedural, scientific, technical or administrative matters.6. PART XI: FINAL PROVISIONSArticle 30ReservationsNo reservations may be made to this Convention.Article 31Withdrawal1. At any time after two years from the date on which this Convention has entered into force for a Party, that Party may withdraw from the Convention by giving written notification to the Depositary.2. Any such withdrawal shall take effect upon expiry of one year from the date of receipt by the Depositary of the notification of withdrawal, or on such later date as may be specified in the notification of withdrawal.3. Any Party that withdraws from the Convention shall be considered as also having withdrawn from any protocol to which it is a Party.Article 32Right to vote1. Each Party to this Convention shall have one vote, except as provided for in paragraph 2 of this Article.2. Regional economic integration organizations, in matters within their competence, shall exercise their right to vote with a number of votes equal to the number of their Member States that are Parties to the Convention. Such an organization shall not exercise its right to vote if any of its Member States exercises its right, and vice versa.Article 33Protocols1. Any Party may propose protocols. Such proposals will be considered by the Conference of the Parties.2. The Conference of the Parties may adopt protocols to this Convention. In adopting these protocols every effort shall be made to reach consensus. If all efforts at consensus have been exhausted, and no agreement reached, the protocol shall as a last resort be adopted by a three-quarters majority vote of the Parties present and voting at the session. For the purposes of this Article, Parties present and voting means Parties present and casting an affirmative or negative vote.3. The text of any proposed protocol shall be communicated to the Parties by the Secretariat at least six months before the session at which it is proposed for adoption.4. Only Parties to the Convention may be parties to a protocol.5. Any protocol to the Convention shall be binding only on the parties to the protocol in question. Only Parties to a protocol may take decisions on matters exclusively relating to the protocol in question.6. The requirements for entry into force of any protocol shall be established by that instrument.Article 34SignatureThis Convention shall be open for signature by all Members of the World Health Organization and by any States that are not Members of the World Health Organization but are members of the United Nations and by regional economic integration organizations at the World Health Organization Headquarters in Geneva from 16 June 2003 to 22 June 2003, and thereafter at United Nations Headquarters in New York, from 30 June 2003 to 29 June 2004.Article 35Ratification, acceptance, approval, formal confirmation or accession1. This Convention shall be subject to ratification, acceptance, approval or accession by States and to formal confirmation or accession by regional economic integration organizations. It shall be open for accession from the day after the date on which the Convention is closed for signature. Instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval, formal confirmation or accession shall be deposited with the Depositary .2. Any regional economic integration organization which becomes a Party to the Convention without any of its Member States being a Party shall be bound by all the obligations under the Convention. In the case of those organizations, one or more of whose Member States is a Party to the Convention, the organization and its Member States shall decide on their respective responsibilities for the performance of their obligations under the Convention. In such cases, the organization and the Member States shall not be entitled to exercise rights under the Convention concurrently.3. Regional economic integration organizations shall, in their instruments relating to formal confirmation or in their instruments of accession, declare the extent of their competence with respect to the matters governed by the Convention. These organizations shall also inform the Depositary, who shall in turn inform the Parties, of any substantial modification in the extent of their competence.Article 36Entry into force1. This Convention shall enter into force on the ninetieth day following the date of deposit of the fortieth instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval, formal confirmation or accession with the Depositary.2. For each State that ratifies, accepts or approves the Convention or accedes thereto after the conditions set out in paragraph 1 of this Article for entry into force have been fulfilled, the Convention shall enter into force on the ninetieth day following the date of deposit of its instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession.3. For each regional economic integration organization depositing an instrument of formal confirmation or an instrument of accession after the conditions set out in paragraph 1 of this Article for entry into force have been fulfilled, the Convention shall enter into force on the ninetieth day following the date of its depositing of the instrument of formal confirmation or of accession.4. For the purposes of this Article, any instrument deposited by a regional economic integration organization shall not be counted as additional to those deposited by States Members of the organization.Article 37DepositaryThe Secretary-General of the United Nations shall be the Depositary of this Convention and amendments thereto and of protocols and annexes adopted in accordance with Articles 28, 29 and 33.Article 38Authentic textsThe original of this Convention, of which the Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish texts are equally authentic, shall be deposited with the Secretary-General of the United Nations.IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned, being duly authorized to that effect, have signed this Convention.DONE at GENEVA this [date of month] two thousand and three.