(adds statements by NGOs Corporate Accountability)
Geneva, 27 mar (EFE).-representatives of 174 countries will meet for one week in Geneva starting this Thursday to negotiate the final draft of a Protocol on illicit trade in tobacco, which would avoid losses of up to $ 50 billion.
The document will be the first practical and binding – tool for those who sign and ratify – the framework Convention against tobacco, adopted in 2003 and entered into force in 2005.
“Adopted the Protocol is historical, as it was already the Convention.” “Will be the tool with which Governments can control the illicit trade, which touches health, trade and fiscal aspects,” explained at press Haik Nikogosian, director of the Secretariat of the Convention.
According to the World Health Organization (who), the illicit trade is doubly dangerous because the products sold are of lower quality, therefore much more harmful for the health, but also, as they are cheaper, encouraged consumption and undermine efforts to combat its use, which causes 5.4 million deaths each year.
Also, the control of illegal trade will allow effective weapons to fight criminal activity on the rise, as well as allowing to recoup some of the $ 50 billion left to collect in the form of taxes and customs duties.
“If a customs intercepted a stash of illegal tobacco, there are no power to investigate where it comes from.” “From now on, yes that may investigate and the Member States are obliged to cooperate between them”, said.
Still to negotiate several articles, including control on the chain of distribution, licensing, sales in duty-free zones and sales over the internet.
Once completed the drafting of the Protocol, this will have to be adopted at the fifth meeting of the Conference of the parties of the framework Convention against tobacco, which will take place in November in Seoul.
Yul Francisco Dorado, director for Latin America of the NGO Corporate Accountability International, active for more than 20 years in the fight against smoking, certainly believes that the negotiating process will be concluded next week and that the Protocol can be adopted in November, and “in general terms” agrees with the content of the same.
“However, we like it to be more restrictive in establishing limits to the tobacco industry.” “Everyone knows that tries to influence governments with technical assistance or donations apology, the Protocol should prohibit such interference and should ensure the financial autonomy of Governments,” said in statements to Efe.
To achieve this, Dorado proposes to apply a new tax which amount will be dedicated to the implementation of the Protocol.
Consulted Nikogosian on the behavior of the tobacco industry, confirmed that “pressed everything they can”.
“Attempt to divert the debate and say that we must fight against the false marks when they are different things.” “We must fight against smuggling, a practice that they even drive because they benefit from it”, he accused Nikogosian.
Of the 193 countries that make up the who, 174 have signed and ratified the Convention, but there are notable absences, such as United States, Switzerland, Argentina, Ethiopia or Czech Republic only country in the European Union that are not part of the Treaty.EFE
