Tobacco Asia

Volume 19, Number 1

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20 tobaccoasia By Andrey Medvedev Last year in the September/October issue, Tobacco Asia published a feature on the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) sixth Conference of Parties (COP6), speculating as to what could be expected from the event – recom- mendations for higher excise taxes, bans or reduc- tions on duty free allowances, ingredient bans, classification of e-cigarettes, calling for plain pack- aging, alternative crops to tobacco growing, com- bating illegal trade, and tobacco industry liability. It turned out that many of those points were pre- dicted correctly. But of course, there were some developments during COP6 that went far beyond even what had been thought to be, by those in the industry and other relevant sectors, the "worst case scenario". One of such jaw-dropping developments that perfectly set the tone for the entire event came right in the opening plenary session: the Inter- national Police Organization's (INTERPOL) ap- plication for observer status was rapidly rejected because of INTERPOL's partnership deal with Philip Morris International. This move was seen by some as a sign of disregard by WHO for public We revisit the recent FCTC COP 6 meeting in Moscow, which outdid itself in trying to cloak itself in mystery. It not only banned any tobacco industry personnel from attending, but also all public and media. This flagrant lack of transparency has proved that the COP proceedings are not only antidemocratic, but downright paranoid. How can such an agency pass its edicts on manufacturing without consultation with the manufacturers? Locked Out! Cop Out at the FCTC COP6

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