Gulf Daily News - 23/5/2006

BAHRAIN is set to join the World Health Organisation Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO-FCTC).

Parliament has already approved the ratification of the convention, with the Shura Council backing it in principle yesterday.

The council is expected to approve it in a final vote next week.

The 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.

It does this by providing a framework for tobacco control measures to be implemented by 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, according to the WHO website.

It includes measures relating t the reduction in supply of tobacco, such as recognising 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 sub-regional, regional and global agreements, are essential components of tobacco control."