With the aim of drastically reducing tobacco consumption, the WHO will take several measures to COP11, including the reduction of tobacco sales points
Portuguese tobacco producers warn that the World Health Organization (WHO) is preparing measures that could threaten the sustainability of “thousands of small companies” in the tobacco value chain and encourage “illicit trade”.
Speaking to the Lusa agency regarding the 11th Conference of the Parties (COP11) of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), which takes place from the 17th to the 22nd of November in Geneva (Switzerland), an official source from Tabaqueira stated that, “if all the measures presented are accepted, they could jeopardize the sustainability of thousands of small companies that make up the value chain of this sector, as well as enhancing conditions favorable to illicit trade and losses of tax revenue”.
With the aim of drastically reducing tobacco consumption, the WHO will take several measures to COP11, including the reduction of tobacco sales points, the ban on incentives for retailers and the end of the commercial sale of tobacco products, particularly in stationery stores, kiosks, convenience stores or gas stations.
“Looking forward” to the position that Portugal and the European Union (EU) will take at COP11, Tabaqueira argues that a “consensus that ensures a balanced approach that respects national specificities, maintains coherence with European directives and safeguards the sovereignty and competences of Member States in areas such as health, taxation and economic policy” is “essential”.
The president of the Board of Directors of Fábrica de Tabaco Micaelense, Mário Fortuna, is also “concerned about this evolution”, considering that “some of the proposals that will be discussed at this meeting are too bold in scope and also dangerous for the survival of the industry”.
“These are measures that threaten the sustainability [das empresas] and there is some exaggeration, such as the suggestion that commercial sales be made by non-profit institutions, which is, in our opinion, incomprehensible”, he stated in statements to Lusa.
Maintaining that “there are measures that are exaggerated” and others “that are not properly based on a scientific basis”, Mário Fortuna argues that it is necessary to take “into account not only the scientific evidence of the effectiveness” of the proposals, but also the consequences of some of them”.
“Because, in the end, if the measures were too tight, they will favor illicit trade, which benefits no one, because it creates parallel and illegal activities, leads to loss of revenue and, in many circumstances, loss of control on the part of authorities over the quality of products and safety for the population”, he emphasized.
The president of Fábrica de Tabaco Micaelense recalls that “this issue is not new”, but just “one more in a series of developments that have occurred over the years”, but warns that the issue must be approached “with some caution”.
“Because there are several perspectives on this matter and there are, naturally, economic interests, not only from company shareholders, but also – and above all – from the many jobs and export capacity that Portugal demonstrates with this industry”, he maintains.
Entitled “Prospective Measures for Tobacco Control”, the report by WHO experts proposes to transform the sector, advancing measures in terms of tobacco supply, consumption and production that range from ending commercial incentives for retailers and imposing restrictions on those born after 2008 (known as the ‘tobacco-free generation’), to the imposition of annual limits on production, accountability from the producer for environmental damage and a total ban on filters in cigarettes, classified as disposable plastic waste.
In the document, states are advised to “replace for-profit tobacco supply” with “non-profit or state-controlled distribution in accordance with public health objectives.”
The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) is an international treaty, to which Portugal and the EU are parties, which aims to protect present and future generations from the consequences of tobacco. The Conference of the Parties to the FCTC (COP) is the body that brings together signatory countries to discuss and approve global measures to control tobacco and nicotine products.
Although these measures are not binding in nature, they serve as guidelines for COP Member States.
In Portugal, the last government of António Costa approved changes to the Tobacco Law in 2023 in the Council of Ministers, imposing restrictions on sales and consumption with the aim of promoting a tobacco-free generation by 2040, but the most relevant changes ended up being postponed with the dissolution of parliament, at the beginning of 2024.
