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Panama Declaration of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control [08/14/01] InterAmerican Heart Foundation and the Interamerican Society of Cardiology Panama. On August 13, Panama was the site of historical meetings in which the two most important international organizations in America fighting against heart disease and stroke united to call all governments of America to action. They ask for strong action against tobacco consumption in all its forms in order to diminish the terrible devastation it causes through death and disease. These organizations are the InterAmerican Heart Foundation and the Interamerican Society of Cardiology. It is estimated that, of approximately 100 million smokers in Latin America and the Caribbean, more than 50 million will be victims of tobacco consumption and half of these, 25 million, will die in their most productive years, losing from 20 to 25 years of life. Dr. Elinor Wilson, President of the InterAmerican Heart Foundation, emphasizes that this problem not only represents an enormous cost for our developing countries but a true personal tragedy for smokers and their families. Dr. Wilson from Canada and Dr. Horacio Faella from Argentina, president of the Interamerican Society of Cardiology, agreed to sign the Panama Declaration. Dr. Natasha Herrera from Venezuela, an expert in tobacco control, affirms that adequate tobacco control can only be guaranteed through global agreements. “We want our governments to support the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control which the World Health Organization is promoting with the governments of 191 countries,” says Dr. Herrera. The Framework Convention on Tobacco Control will define international rules for tobacco control. Our aim is that this Convention will guarantee the adoption of minimal measures that will effectively reduce tobacco consumption. These measures include: 1- Prioritizing public health as a fundamental concept and an essential right, overriding any other interests that may favor particular rights, such as commercial agreements, over human and social rights. 2- Total prohibition of all tobacco publicity, promotion and sponsoring directed at everyone, whether adults or children, to the greatest extent possible, and guaranteeing that they will not be exported beyond national borders. 3- Regulation of packaging and labelling. All countries must adopt a norm of clear and convincing warnings on the packages of all tobacco products taking up no less that 50% of the external space of the package, thus guaranteeing the right of the consumer to be informed. Along the same lines, terms such as “light” and “mild” should be avoided as they produce a false perception regarding product risk.. 4- Adoption of pricing policies and prohibition of duty-free sales and cigarette vending machines, since these favor smuggling as well as consumption among a younger and more vulnerable population. 5- Control of cigarette smoke in closed environments. Dr. Mario Maranhao, President of the World Heart Federation, was also in Panama participating in the Interamerican Congress of Cardiology, and he joined the condemnation of tobacco consumption stating that it is expected that tobacco will be the main cause of preventable death and disability in the world by the year 2030, above AIDS, drugs and other diseases. Should the current trend continue, tobacco consumption will be responsible of 10 million annual deaths. Today tobacco consumption in any of its forms kills one out of ten adults worldwide. By the year 2030, the world rate will be one out of six, and seven of every ten deaths due to tobacco consumption will take place in developing countries or in low to middle income countries. This problem is aggravated because governments’ income from tobacco taxation does not cover expenses to treat those affected by tobacco-related illnesses and the loss of productivity that results from these illnesses. InterAmerican Heart Foundationand Interamerican Society of Cardiology PANAMA DECLARATION Taking into account that: o Tobacco represents a public health problem in the Americas. o In 1998 the World Health Organization and its collaborating centers estimated that there were 1.2 billion smokers in the world, one third of the world population over the age of fourteen. Of these, 800 million smokers live in developing countries or countries with medium to low incomes. o One of every 12 smokers in the world or 8.9% live in Latin America and the Caribbean, representing a total of 101 million people, 64.1 million men and 37.2 million women. The number of smokers in Latin America and the Caribbean is double the number of smokers in North America, where 53.3 million people smoke, 27.8 million men and 25.5 million women. o It is anticipated that tobacco will be the main cause of death and premature disability in the world by the year 2030, more than AIDS, drugs or other infirmities. If current trends are sustained, tobacco consumption will be responsible for 10 million deaths worldwide. In other words, tobacco consumption, in any of its forms, today kills one in ten adults. At the current rate of growth, by 2030, one out of every six death worldwide will be due to tobacco consumption. And 7 out of 10 tobacco related deaths will occur in developing countries or countries with low to medium incomes. o Each smoked cigarette contains 4000 chemical components. Many of these are toxic agents and at least 43 have been identified as direct causes of cancer. o Many smokers become dependent on nicotine, a psychoactive, addictive substance in all tobacco products. o The revenues generated from cigarette taxes and taxes on tobacco derivative products do not cover the costs of both: i) treating those affected by tobacco-related illnesses, and ii) lost productivity associated with tobacco-related illnesses. o In the Americas, there are huge disparities in the strictness of legal measures and the existence of specific institutions dedicated to the prevention and control of tobacco consumption. This allows for increased marketing, distribution and addiction to tobacco and its derivatives in the Caribbean and Latin America. The countries of the American Region hereby RESOLVE: To support and promote text in the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control that guarantees the adoption of minimum measures to effectively lower tobacco consumption and postpone the age of initiation in young people and other vulnerable groups. The following are such measures:
To ban publicity, promotion and sponsorship of tobacco products to both adults and children, to the greatest degree possible. This measure must also restrict publicity, promotion and sponsorship beyond national borders to other countries that may have greater restrictions. 2. Public Health over Trade To ensure that public health, as an essential right of individuals, always takes primacy over any other objective, economic or otherwise, in international trade and agreements. 3. Packaging and Labeling To provide minimum packaging and labeling regulation that all countries must adopt requiring clear and forceful package warnings in all tobacco products covering al least 50% of the exterior surface of the packages supporting the consumers rights to information. Likewise, to avoid the use of terms such as “light” or “mild” that may create a false perception regarding product safety. 4. Pricing Policy To adopt pricing policies, prohibit the sale of duty-free cigarettes, and sale of tobacco products through vending machines, which encourage contraband smuggling as well as consumption by young and more vulnerable populations. 5. Protection from second-hand smoke
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