WHA48.11 An international strategy for tobacco control
The Forty-eighth World Health Assembly,
Recalling and reaffirming resolutions WHA33.35, WHA39.14, WHA43.16, WHA45.20, all calling for comprehensive multisectoral, long-term tobacco strategies and outlining the most important aspects of national, regional and international policies and strategies in that field;
Recognizing the work carried out by the Organization in the field of tobacco or health, and noting that the plan of action of the tobacco or health programme for 1988-1995 comes to an end in the current year;
Noting that the Director-General and his staff contributed to the success of the Ninth World Conference on Tobacco and Health (Paris, October 1994) at which an international strategy for tobacco control was adopted covering the essential aspects of WHO policy in that field: curbing of promotion of tobacco products, demand reduction, particularly among women and young people, smoking cessation programmes, economic policies, health warnings, regulation of tar and nicotine content of tobacco products, smoke-free environments, and marketing and monitoring,
1. COMMENDS the International Civil Aviation Organization's response to ban smoking on all international flights as of 1 July 1996;
2. URGES those Member States that have already successfully implemented all or most of a comprehensive strategy for tobacco control to provide assistance to WHO, working with the United Nations system focal point on "tobacco or health" (located in UNCTAD), so that these bodies can effectively coordinate the provision of timely and effective advice and support to Member States seeking to improve their tobacco control strategies, including health warnings on exported tobacco products;
3. REQUESTS the Director-General:
(1) to report to the Forty-ninth World Health Assembly on the feasibility of developing an international instrument such as guidelines, a declaration, or an international convention on tobacco control to be adopted by the United Nations, taking into account existing trade and other conventions and treaties;
(2) to inform the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations of this resolution;
(3) to strengthen WHO's advocacy role and capacity in the field of tobacco or health and to submit to the Forty-ninth World Health Assembly a plan of action for the tobacco or health programme for the period 1996-2000.
Hbk Res., Vol. III (3rd ed.), 1.11.4
(Twelfth plenary meeting, 12 May 1995 - Committee A, second report)