Countries Take on Big Tobacco at World Health Meeting

This week, health representatives from over 170 countries are gathering in Punta del Este, Uruguay for the fourth conference of the World Health Organization's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, the first global public health treaty.

But it's also become what Uruguay's President, Jose Mujica, describes as a "laboratory of confrontation" with Big Tobacco. Philip Morris International is suing Uruguay for the size of their graphic warning labels, which will cover 80 percent of a pack of cigarettes, and trying to make the country an example of their power over public health policy.

As a result, numerous non-profits, including Corporate Accountability International (CAI), Framework Convention Alliance, the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids and World Lung Foundation, came together to take out a full-page ad ("the world looks to Uruguay") in the country's leading newspaper, El Pais, on Sunday. The ad "lets the government know that the global community stands in solidarity with Uruguay in challenging Philip Morris International's lawsuit regarding the new graphic cigarette warning label," according to CAI.

Uruguay isn't the only country under assault from the tobacco industry, which is likely to face increasing regulation as countries begin to implement the global health treaty. On Sunday, the New York Times reported that the industry has "ramped up" efforts to try to weaken health regulation in advance of the meeting, including contesting limits on ads in Britain and bigger health warnings in South America and fighting against cigarette taxes in Mexico. In a press release, CAI details how the tobacco industry undermines treaty implementation by putting executives in government positions, marketing to youth in defiance of regulations and trying to sway regulators.

But the global tobacco treaty has the industry worried.

Countries that are signatory to the treaty vow to implement laws and regulations that would reduce tobacco use, alert consumers to the health effects and reduce exposure to second-hand smoke. The summit will discuss how to implement the policies and address technical and budgetary issues. According to Business Week, tobacco lobbyists set up a tent outside the conference hotel as a protest, since they were not allowed to participate as observers.

Uruguay's graphic warning labels aren't unique; over 30 countries have them and the FDA just unveiled labels to be used in the U.S. But Uruguay's would be the largest, and the lawsuit is likely intended to discourage other countries from increasing their labels.

But the lawsuit against the small country has galvanized anti-tobacco advocates and groups. On Monday, New York's Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who has helped fund global tobacco control programs, called President Mujica to pledge his financial assistance in fighting the lawsuit from Philip Morris. Philip Morris International's annual revenue is about twice the amount of Uruguay's GDP.

Mujica has pledged to uphold the new legislation, stating that the lawsuit seeks to "complicate the life and sovereignty of a small nation that has the boldness to defend itself and try to defend the health of its people."

To support the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, sign this petition asking Obama to send it to the Senate for ratification.

Photo credit: Corporate Accountability International