BACKGROUND: Tobacco is grown in 119 countries, according to data from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Articles 17 and 18 of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) aim to protect the livelihoods of tobacco farmers in response to the global decline in tobacco consumption while also safeguarding the environment and the health of those involved in the tobacco production chain. This study examines the implementation of these two articles by the Treaty’s Parties nearly 20 years after its entry into force.
METHODS: This exploratory study used secondary data from the WHO FCTC implementation database, publicly available on the WHO FCTC Secretariat website, referring to 2023. Data analysis was conducted using IBM SPSS v.30.
RESULTS: Among the 119 tobacco-growing countries, 97% are Parties to the Treaty. However, in the analyzed reporting cycle, of the 182 countries that responded to the WHO FCTC implementation questionnaire, only 85 (47%) reported tobacco cultivation within their jurisdiction. Among tobacco-producing countries, 31% stated that they had adopted or implemented measures to promote economically viable and sustainable alternatives for tobacco growers. Regarding Article 18, 34% reported implementing measures to protect the environment from the impacts of tobacco farming, and 33% had adopted actions to safeguard the health of those involved in tobacco cultivation. Concerning the environmental impact of tobacco product manufacturing, 39% reported implementing measures for both environmental and health protection. The questionnaire did not address final disposal of tobacco product waste.
CONCLUSIONS: Nearly two decades after the WHO FCTC's entry into force, Articles 17 and 18 remain among the least implemented globally. Despite growing awareness of the environmental and health impacts of the tobacco production chain, many countries still seem to believe that protective measures should apply only to tobacco-growing nations.