Lung Association Urges U.S. Tobacco Treaty Delegates To Protect Public Health, Not Big Tobacco; Call Issued for Public Hearing

American Lung Association
Tuesday, 12 March 2002

As international negotiators meet in Geneva March 18-24 for a fourth round of negotiations on a global tobacco-control treaty, the American Lung Association is concerned that U.S. delegates will fail once again to promote public health.

"To date, the Bush Administration's delegates have sought to weaken the treaty at every turn," said John L. Kirkwood, President and CEO of the American Lung Association.

During previous negotiating meetings, Administration representatives led efforts to weaken all aspects of the treaty. They have opposed provisions that ban tobacco advertising, sponsorship and promotion; ban misleading descriptors such as "light" and "low tar"; ban duty-free cigarettes; and protect people from secondhand smoke.

In addition to being bad policy for public health, there appears to be an inconsistency in the Administration's position. According to a March 11, 2002 report in the Wall Street Journal, the U.S. Department of Justice, in discussing settlement of the federal tobacco lawsuit, is seeking restrictions on tobacco marketing. Included would be banning "light", "low-tar" or "mild" labels.

"It is bewildering. On one hand, the Justice Department is pursuing marketing restrictions. On the other hand, the U.S. tobacco treaty negotiators are opposing similar provisions," said Kirkwood. "We suggest that the entire Bush Administration support strong public health provisions. In this matter, like most things, the details matter."

"We urge our U.S. delegates not to squander this truly historic opportunity to promote public health - not the interests of Big Tobacco," he said.

The treaty, known as the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, is being negotiated under the auspices of the World Health Organization. Lung Association staff will be among representatives of non-governmental organizations joining the negotiations as observers. The Lung Association has attended all three previous negotiating sessions and will closely monitor the actions of the U.S. delegation as the treaty process continues.

The Lung Association is also calling on U.S. negotiators to live up to a promise they made last fall to hold a public hearing on the issue of global tobacco use. The hearing would be a follow-up to one held by the Clinton Administration in 2000. Bush treaty-making delegates told the Lung Association that a public hearing would be held before this month's round of negotiations. The Lung Association was later told that a hearing "might" be held this summer.

"What are they afraid of?" asked Kirkwood. "Shouldn't the public have an opportunity to be heard? Are they concerned that America will see how much influence big U.S. tobacco companies have in shaping U.S. policy on this issue?"

"Americans deserve the opportunity to again share their opinions with U.S. delegates now that the negotiators are drawing closer to writing final treaty language," said Kirkwood.

For more information, or to contact American Lung Association, see their website at: www.lungusa.org