Global progress report 2012

The global progress report on the status of implementation of the WHO FCTC is now available in English, French and Spanish. The report provides a global overview of implementation of the Convention on the basis of the reports provided by the Parties in the 2012 reporting cycle, tracks progress between different reporting periods, provides key observations by article, and draws conclusions on overall progress, opportunities and challenges.

Eight years of the WHO FCTC

On 27 February 2013 the WHO FCTC marks eight years since its entry into force. Those years have seen remarkable progress.

Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products opened for signature

The Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products, adopted by the Parties to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) in November 2012 in Seoul, was opened for signature in a ceremony at WHO Headquarters on 10 January 2013. By the end of the first two days in Geneva, 13 Parties had signed the Protocol.

News from Parties

  • Fiji Ministry of Health publishes new Tobacco Control Regulations
  • Hungary New regulation of tobacco sales introduced
  • Mongolia Comprehensive tobacco control legislation revised
  • Rwanda Comprehensive tobacco control legislation adopted
  • Georgia State Committee on Tobacco Control established
  • Russian Federation President signs comprehensive tobacco control law
  • Chile Comprehensive tobacco control legislation adopted
  • Suriname Comprehensive tobacco control legislation passed
  • Iceland New regulations on graphic health warnings introduced
  • Ireland New graphic health warnings to help people quit smoking
  • Philippines New taxes on tobacco products introduced
  • Cook Islands Tobacco Control Action Plan adopted
  • Gambia New tobacco tax policy to be introduced
  • European Union Revised EU Tobacco Products Directive
  • Congo Tobacco control act adopted
  • United Arab Emirates Pictorial warnings required on cigarette and shisha products
  • Norway Prohibition on the visible display of tobacco products at the points of sale
  • Germany Cigarettes containing menthol capsules banned
  • Australia High Court rejects tobacco industry challenge to plain packaging
  • Ukraine New law extends smoking ban
  • Iraq Comprehensive tobacco control legislation adopted
  • Singapore Misleading descriptors on tobacco packaging banned
  • Brazil Ethical guidelines against tobacco industry interference launched
  • Ukraine All forms of tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship banned
  • Brazil Flavoured cigarettes banned
  • Costa Rica New tobacco control act adopted
  • Republic of Moldova Government adopts national tobacco control strategy and action plan
  • Turkmenistan President approves national action plan on tobacco control
  • United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Ban on sales from vending machines in Northern Ireland
  • Hungary New decree on combined warnings and ban on smoking in all public places
  • Burkina Faso Decrees adopted to ensure effective implementation of the 2010 tobacco control act
  • Brazil Brazil to become world's largest smoke-free country
  • Republic of Serbia First anniversary of the law on protection from exposure to tobacco smoke
  • Burkina Faso Workshop aims to boost tobacco cessation
  • United Arab Emirates New regulation requires graphic pictorial warnings
  • United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Vending machine sales banned in England
  • India New regulations on depictions of tobacco products in films and on TV
  • Lebanon New tobacco-control law adopted
  • India Mandatory picture to be included in point-of-sale displays
  • Ecuador New tobacco control law adopted
  • Israel Complete ban on tobacco vending machines
  • China China tightens rules on smoking in public places and indirect advertising
  • India “Heartbreak” anti-bidi smoking campaign launched
  • Colombia New tobacco-control measures come into effect
  • Plurinational State of Bolivia Picture warnings required
  • Nigeria National Tobacco Control Bill passed by the Nigerian Senate
  • Venezuela Smoke-free workplaces and public places

Highlights

Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products: open for signature

Voluntary assessed contributions:

Publication of a glossary of terms used in the WHO FCTC and its instruments

Regional meetings on implementation of the WHO FCTC

Database of available resources

New publications

Upcoming events

Webinars on the Protocol (online meetings)
starting 13 May 2013

Consultative meeting of NGOs accredited as observers to the Conference of the Parties to the WHO FCTC

Geneva, 23 May 2013

Meeting of the open-ended intersessional drafting group on Article 6 of the WHO FCTC

Geneva, 3-6 June 2013

Regional meeting on implementation of the WHO FCTC in the WHO South-East Asia Region

New Delhi, India, 23-26 July 2013

Quick links

Contact us

Fax: +41 22 791 5830
fctcsecretariat@who.int