SA to sign tobacco treaty

2003-06-11 20:30

Cape Town - South Africa will next week become one of the first countries to sign a new treaty designed to fight tobacco on a global scale, the ministry of health confirmed on Wednesday.

South Africa, which already has some of the most advanced anti-tobacco legislation in the world, played an important role in the protracted negotiations on the treaty, and in resisting attempts to water it down.

The agreement is the first international treaty entirely devoted to health.

Adopted by all 192 members of the World Health Organisation on May 21, it will commit signatories to tougher public health measures against tobacco, such as controls on advertising, sponsorship and smoking in public places.

It also calls for tobacco tax and price increases and efforts to eliminate illicit trade.

- SAPA