WHO FCTC

🇺🇦 Ukraine marks 20 years of commitment to the WHO Framework Convention on To***co Control

The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine (Parliament) has approved a resolution marking the 20th anniversary of Ukraine’s ratification of the WHO Framework Convention on To***co Control (WHO FCTC).

The resolution recognizes that implementation of the Convention has had a “leading and decisive impact” in addressing the to***co use epidemic in Ukraine, contributing to reduced to***co use among population groups, including children.

The Verkhovna Rada also recognized the importance of protecting public health from the vested and commercial interests of the to***co industry.

The Secretariat of the WHO FCTC warmly welcomes this milestone and Ukraine’s continued commitment to advancing public health through evidence-based to***co control policies.

🔗 Read the resolution:
https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/4970-IX

The WHO FCTC Secretariat participated in the WHO Western Pacific Regional Office Global Health Leadership Course, connecting with a new generation of health leaders. ‍⚕️🌱

🤝 In the Philippines, the Secretariat also worked with WHO, government partners and the Asian Development Bank to strengthen collaboration on to***co control, including efforts to address the illicit trade in to***co products and advance sustainable financing for health. 💰🏥

🛡️ Protecting public health from to***co industry interference remains essential to ensuring that health policies are shaped by evidence and the public interest.

📣 Strong leadership, international cooperation and effective implementation of the WHO FCTC and its Protocol are critical to protecting people from the harms of to***co and building healthier futures.

Strengthening health leadership for stronger to***co control and healthier communities. 🌍💚

🌱 Investing in to***co control is investing in health, sustainable development and future generations.



https://fctc.who.int/newsroom/news/item/08-09-2026-strengthening-health-leadership-in-the-philippines

WHO FCTC engages with UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health -a Global Summit- in the Philippines

At the 2026 in Manila, the WHO FCTC Secretariat engaged with parliamentarians and global health leaders to highlight the critical role of to***co taxation and sustainable financing in advancing to***co control and the Sustainable Development Goals.

💡 Investing in to***co control is investing in healthier people, stronger economies and a more sustainable future.

Read more:
https://fctc.who.int/newsroom/news/item/08-09-2026-who-fctc-engages-with-unite-global-summit-2026-in-the-philippines

🌍 Stronger to***co control needs stronger political commitment and sustainable financing.

🚬😮‍💨 To***co smoke pollutes the air we breathe — indoors and outdoors.

Article 8 of the WHO FCTC protects people from exposure to to***co smoke and help ensure clean air in indoor public places and outdoor spaces.

🌍 Clean air is essential for healthy people and a healthy planet. 🍃

->https://iris.who.int/bitstream/handle/10665/255574/9789241512497-eng.pdf

Take a deep breath. 🌍💙

Clean air is essential for our health and for our planet.

This , let’s celebrate the air we share and the actions that can help make it cleaner.

Learn more: https://www.unep.org/interactives/clean-air-day-guide/

World No To***co Day 2027 Awards.

This year’s theme is especially important:

🧠 Mental well-being – protecting young minds from to***co and ni****ne.

The awards recognize individuals, organizations, government departments and other groups that have made an outstanding contribution to advancing to***co control and protecting people—especially young people—from the harms of to***co and ni****ne.

👏 If you know a person or organization whose leadership, innovation, advocacy or commitment has made a real difference, this is an opportunity to shine a light on their work and celebrate their impact.

📅 Nomination deadline: 20 November 2026, 17:00 GMT

🔗 Learn more and submit a nomination:

https://www.who.int/news-room/articles-detail/call-for-nominations--world-no-to***co-day-2027-awards

***coDay

World No To***co Day 2027 awards - call for nominations The World Health Organization (WHO) is calling for nominations to the World No To***co Day Awards of individuals or organizations in each of the six WHO Regions for their accomplishments in the area of to***co control.

🌍 Africa’s to***co story is changing — and the new data demand attention.

📊 The new WHO report, Status of to***co production and trade in Africa, 2nd ed., highlights a troubling trend: while global to***co-leaf production declined by nearly 19% between 2012 and 2024, production in Africa increased by 8.6%.

🌱 Africa produced more than 639,000 tonnes of to***co leaf in 2024, accounting for around 11% of global production. At the same time, the continent’s cigarette import bill more than doubled, rising from US$833 million to US$1.77 billion.

🚨 This is about more than to***co control. It is a health, trade, development and environmental issue.

👩🏾‍🌾 To***co cultivation can expose farmers and workers to ni****ne, pesticides and other health risks, while contributing to soil degradation, deforestation, water use and environmental damage.

🍽️ To***co production also competes for land, water and resources that could support food production and more sustainable livelihoods.

🤝 This is where Articles 17 and 18 of the WHO FCTC matter.

🌾 Article 17 calls on Parties to promote economically viable alternatives for to***co workers and growers, while Article 18 calls for attention to the protection of health and the environment in relation to to***co cultivation and production:

https://fctc.who.int/resources/publications/m/item/policy-options-and-recommendations-on-economically-sustainable-alternatives-to-to***co-growing

💡 The goal is not to leave to***co farmers behind. It is to support a transition towards sustainable, viable livelihoods that protect farmers, communities, food security and the environment.

🔄 As to***co production continues to grow in parts of Africa, implementing Articles 17 and 18 becomes increasingly important.

🌱 The question is not simply how much to***co Africa produces — but what kind of agricultural and economic future we want to build.

📖 Read the WHO report: Status of to***co production and trade in Africa

https://who.int/publications/i/item/9789240125162

🌍 🚭 🌱 🌾 🌳

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)

🚨 Flavoured to***co is a trap.

🍓🍬🌿 Sweet, fruity, minty and other flavours can make to***co products more appealing and mask the harshness of to***co smoke — helping attract and sustain to***co use.

📜 Under the WHO FCTC Articles 9 & 10 Partial Guidelines, Parties are encouraged to prohibit or restrict ingredients that increase the palatability and attractiveness of to***co products, including flavourings, sugars, sweeteners, herbs and spices.

🌍 And countries are taking action: over 40 countries now ban flavoured to***co products.

🚭 Flavours don’t make to***co safer — they can make it more attractive.

👉 Regulate flavours. Reduce attractiveness. Protect public health.

Read more -> https://fctc.who.int/resources/publications/m/item/regulation-of-the-contents-of-to***co-products-and-regulation-of-to***co-product-disclosures

🚭 Pictorial health warnings work.

Images speak louder than words — especially when it comes to showing the real dangers of to***co use. 🫁⚠️
Large, clear pictorial health warnings on to***co packaging can:
🔴 Remind people of the serious health risks every time they reach for a to***co product
🔴 Inform consumers about the harms caused by to***co use
🔴 Increase awareness of to***co-related diseases
🔴 Motivate people who smoke to consider quitting 💪

This is also reflected in Article 11 of the WHO Framework Convention on To***co Control, which calls on Parties to adopt effective health warnings on to***co packaging. The guidelines for Article 11 emphasize that warnings should be large, clear, visible, legible and, where appropriate, include pictures or other graphic elements.

🌍 Many countries have now introduced prominent pictorial health warnings covering a significant portion of to***co packs.

Because every pack is an opportunity to communicate one simple message:

To***co is dangerous. 🚭 Your health matters. ❤️

Learn more -> https://fctc.who.int/resources/publications/m/item/packaging-and-labelling-of-to***co-products

Many countries are enacting laws establishing smoke-free environments in enclosed workplaces and public spaces.

🌍 Article 8 of the WHO Framework Convention on To***co Control recognizes the importance of protecting people from exposure to to***co smoke.

🚫 There is no safe level of exposure to second-hand to***co smoke. Everyone has the right to breathe clean, smoke-free air — at work, in public places, on public transport, and in other shared spaces. 🫁❤️

🏢 Smoke-free policies help protect workers, children, families, and communities from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke.

🔗 https://fctc.who.int/resources/publications/m/item/protection-from-exposure-to-to***co-smoke

💰 High prices for to***co products help keep them out of reach of young people.

📈 Increasing taxes on to***co products makes them less affordable for vulnerable populations.

🌍 Article 6 of the WHO FCTC recognizes that price and tax measures are an important tool for reducing to***co consumption. It calls on countries to adopt tax and price policies on to***co products as a means of contributing to public health objectives, particularly by reducing to***co use among young people



https://fctc.who.int/resources/publications/m/item/price-and-tax-measures-to-reduce-the-demand-for-to***co