WHO

Background: The tobacco industry works to block, delay and weaken national tobacco control legislation to implement the FCTC. This paper reviews how Nepal overcame industry opposition and to a comprehensive tobacco control law implementing the FCTC.

Methods: We triangulated newspaper articles and policy documents with key informant interviews.

Results: With the support of international health groups, local tobacco control advocates worked with policymakers in Nepal to pass a comprehensive tobacco control law that exceeded FCTC obligations. The tobacco industry exploited a time of political transition to block consideration by Parliament, arranged and sponsored foreign tours for legislators, made death threats to tobacco control advocates and their families, and argued for the economic importance of tobacco farms. Despite strong interference from Health, and Law and Justice ministers, a 2009 Supreme Court ruling helped tobacco control advocates secure a comprehensive tobacco control law in 2011 that included rotating pictorial health warning labels covering 75% of both sides of cigarette packages, 100% smoke free public places and workplaces, private homes and vehicles, and a tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship ban.

Conclusions: Advocates in developing countries should utilize Nepal's experience to reject tobacco industry offers of compromise and continue educating politicians and legislators to generate political support to pass a comprehensive tobacco control law. Technical and financial support from international agencies, and effective collaboration and coordination of civil societies, and utilization of domestic litigation are helpful in LMICs where governance is weak.

Implications: The tobacco industry exploited a time of political transition in Nepal in its effort to block comprehensive tobacco control policy in Parliament by sponsoring foreign tours of legislatures, making death threats to tobacco control advocates and their families, and arguing for the economic importance of tobacco farms. Tobacco control advocates used litigation to raise awareness and educate legislators, and promote strong legislation with the involvement of international health groups. Technical and financial support from international agencies, and effective collaboration and coordination of civil societies, and utilization of domestic litigation are helpful in LMICs where governance is weak.

Bulletin six published by the Tobacco and Health Studies Center of the Sergio Arouca National School of Public Health of the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Cetab / Ensp / Fiocruz). This edition is composed of an editorial signed by Vera Luiza da Costa e Silva, former head of the Secretary of the Framework Convention for Tobacco Control - WHO, in addition to containing the following texts: Observatory on tobacco industry strategies completes 4 years and launches section on Covid-19; Summary of STOP monitoring: tobacco industry responses to the Covid-19 pandemic and the radar section with the latest reports.

Featured Research

A special issue of Drugs and Alcohol Today explores progress towards the goals outlined in the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). Featuring the following peer-reviewed articles by Foundation staff, grantees, and other prominent experts, the issue also describes strategies for improving the FCTC and its implementation. 

Este artigo tem como objetivo geral a necessidade de redução dos danos do tabaco, os produtos de consumo que facilitam a redução dos danos do tabaco e as barreiras para sua implementação. A endemia mundial do tabagismo resulta na morte de mais de sete milhões de fumantes por ano. As taxas de abandono do cigarro são muito baixas, de 3% a 12%, e as taxas de recaída são altas, de 75% a 80% nos primeiros seis meses e 30% a 40% mesmo após um ano de abstinência. Além disso, alguns fumantes não desejam parar. A substituição do cigarro na redução de danos do tabaco é uma estratégia que pode reduzir o fardo da morbidade e mortalidade.