A global pact to battle the illicit tobacco trade kicked in on September 25, with the World Health Organization hailing it as “game-changing” in eliminating widespread health-hazardous and criminal activity.
The protocol to eliminate illicit trade in tobacco products aims to create an international tracking and tracing system to halt the smuggling and counterfeiting of tobacco products.
Under the treaty, agents, suppliers, and tobacco manufacturers will all have to be licensed. Manufacturers will have to carry out checks on customers to ensure they are genuine or if they have associations with criminal organizations.
Countries will also be obliged to establish “tracking and tracing” systems at the national, regional, and international levels, within five years.
In a news release, Philip Morris International (PMI) said, “The entry into force of the protocol is a much anticipated and crucial step towards a more effective and comprehensive fight against illicit tobacco control.”
“While many of the measures it includes are already present in existing national and international laws and agreements, the protocol will allow for further harmonization of these existing measures. This will provide for a more effective and uniform approach by the international community towards combating illicit trade. Something that will benefit governments, ordinary citizens and the many legal businesses operating in the tobacco sector.”
“PMI supports the protocol and the opportunity presented by the first meeting of the parties in October. It sees collaboration between all parties affected by the illicit trade as essential to its success and looks forward to a continued dialogue as the protocol’s principles are applied in practice.”