FEBRUARY 9, 2004

India ratifies anti-tobacco treaty

India has become the eighth country to ratify the World Health Organization's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.

Ratification is the second stage of the process which will bring the global anti-tobacco treaty into force and stamp out tobacco sponsorship across the globe. The convention will become international law 90 days after the 40th country ratifies the agreement.

At the moment only Norway, Malta, Fiji, Sri Lanka, the Seychelles, New Zealand, Mongolia and India have ratified the treaty but India's signature is nonetheless another major step forward in the gradual process by which tobacco is being restricted. Countries which have ratified the agreement undertake to stop all tobacco sponsorship in sport, including cross-border advertising and to require the tobacco industry to fully disclose all of its expenditure on tobacco advertising.