Time to close the loopholes in the free trade of tobacco

Time to close the loopholes in the free trade of tobacco

The WHO FCTC is regarded as a significant achievement in global public health efforts to control tobacco use since its adoption in 2003, currently with 183 Parties covering more than 90% of the world population. The implementation of FCTC measures has contributed to significant reductions in tobacco use prevalence, exposure to second-hand smoke, and tobacco-related morbidity and mortality in many countries.

Despite these achievements, the implemented measures have focused mainly on demand reduction and less on the supply side. On the supply side, illicit trade of tobacco products has received considerable attention via the WHO Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products. Yet, the interrelation between legitimate international trade and public health remains neglected, and trade of tobacco products continues to increase globally.

Free trade of tobacco is causing deforestation globally

While the European Union (EU) controls the illicit trade of tobacco products in the EU domestic market, tobacco is traded quite freely between the EU and its trading partners. Most tobacco products are imported into the EU market with zero tariffs and without quota restrictions through free trade agreements as well as trade preferences . Tobacco products can enter the EU market without tariffs or duties from African, Caribbean and Pacific countries via Economic Partnership Agreements as well as trade preference for the countries via the Everything but Arms scheme that removes tariffs and quotas for the imports of all tobacco products coming into the EU market.

Tobacco is widely traded and grown as a cash crop in more than 125 countries. It is also a major cause of deforestation. EU member countries are major exporters and importers of tobacco products. However, tobacco is not included in the list of products under the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) — the EU’s new regulation to curb EU markets’ impact on global deforestation and forest degradation. The EUDR requires companies trading in cattle, cocoa, coffee, oil palm, rubber, soya, and wood to conduct extensive due diligence on the supply chain to ensure the goods do not result from recent deforestation, forest degradation or breaches of local environmental and social laws.

Across the globe, around 3.5 million hectares of land are converted for tobacco growing each year, contributing to deforestation of 200,000 hectares per year. Tobacco farming, production, consumption, and use are detrimental to the surrounding environment as well as the health of farmers and tobacco users. With an annual greenhouse gas contribution of 84 megatons carbon dioxide equivalent, the tobacco industry contributes to climate change and reducing climate resilience, wasting resources, and damaging ecosystems.

Explicit trade provision in the WHO FCTC to control global tobacco trade

While the EU is provided as an example, free trade of tobacco is uncontrolled due to trade liberalization globally. Given tobacco consumption is the single largest avoidable health risk and the most significant cause of premature death globally, controlling the international trade of tobacco products is vital. The relationship between international trade and public health should be emphasized in the WHO FCTC. It is time to close the loopholes.

International trade of tobacco products and tobacco farming is impeding the achievement of numerous Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), for example, SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG 15 (Life on Land). The adverse impacts of trade liberalization could be negated by excluding tobacco products from the commitments of trade liberalization in free trade agreements and trade preferences.

Individual countries, or even regions, may be powerless to address free trade, especially if confronted with tobacco industry interference and influence. In 2024, the 10th session of the Conference of the Parties of the WHO FCTC (COP10) adopted a historic decision which urges Parties to take account of the environmental impacts from the cultivation, manufacture, consumption and waste disposal of tobacco products, and to strengthen the implementation of FCTC Article 18. In addition, Article 22 requires Parties to cooperate directly or through competent international bodies to strengthen their capacity for implementing the obligations. To achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, close collaboration between the WHO and World Trade Organization (WTO) is crucial to find ways for exempting tobacco products from trade liberalization. This would support the adoption of forward-looking tobacco control measures [WHO FCTC Article 2.1] to better protect the health of present and future generations. COP11 should be ready to take action on free trade of tobacco products globally.

Authors: Ellen Huan-Niemi is a Senior Scientist at the Natural Resources Institute in Finland (Luke). Hanna Ollila is a Senior Specialist at the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) in Finland. Eeva Ollila is Chief Medical Officer at the Cancer Society of Finland.

This blog is originally published at the Tobacco Control journal -- an international peer-reviewed journal covering the nature and consequences of tobacco use worldwide; tobacco's effects on population health, the economy, the environment, and society; efforts to prevent and control the global tobacco epidemic through population-level education and policy changes; the ethical dimensions of tobacco control policies; and the activities of the tobacco industry and its allies. Link to the original blog: https://blogs.bmj.com/tc/2024/09/06/time-to-close-the-loopholes-in-the-free-trade-of-tobacco/

23.09.2024

Time to close the loopholes in the free trade of tobacco

Time to close the loopholes in the free trade of tobacco

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