Lung Association Applauds U.S.
For Signing Global Tobacco Treaty
Urges Bush Administration to Submit to Senate for Ratification
New York, NY (May 11, 2004) – The American Lung Association today applauded the U.S. government for taking the important step of signing the world’s first treaty aimed at curbing the death and disease caused by tobacco use and urged the Administration to quickly submit it to the Senate for ratification.
“Signing the treaty is good public relations; ratifying it will be good public health,” said John L. Kirkwood, President and CEO of the American Lung Association. “Merely signing it without Senate ratification is a hollow victory.”
The landmark Framework Convention on Tobacco Control is aimed at reducing tobacco’s toll around the world. According to U.S. law, the Senate must ratify – or approve – the treaty before this country can implement it domestically and internationally. For the treaty to take effect, it must be ratified by 40 nations. To date, 108 countries have signed the treaty but only 12 have ratified it. Unfortunately, the United States has a long history of signing treaties and never ratifying them. The stakes in tobacco control – 4 million lives lost each year due to tobacco addiction – are too high for this treaty to meet the same fate.
“By signing AND ratifying the treaty, the U.S. government will show the world that this country is serious about protecting people everywhere from the ravages of tobacco use.”
Key provisions of the treaty ban tobacco advertising and promotion unless constitutional barriers exist, limit public exposure to secondhand smoke and require health warning labels on cigarette packages to cover at least 30 percent of the display area. It also prohibits false, misleading and deceptive language – which may include “low tar,” “light,” or “mild” – that imply that a tobacco product is less harmful.
“For far too long, the tobacco industry has targeted the developing world for new markets to sell their lethal products. The treaty provides new tools to protect the public, especially the world’s children, from tobacco addiction, disease and death,” Kirkwood said.
“The American Lung Association will continue to press the Administration to back up its signature of the treaty with a strong push for Senate ratification. One without the other holds little meaning,” he said.
For 100 years, the American Lung Association has been the lead organization working to prevent lung disease and promote lung health. Lung disease death rates continue to increase while other leading causes of death have declined. The American Lung Association funds vital research on the causes of and treatments for lung disease. With the generous support of the public, the American Lung Association is “Improving life, one breath at a time.” For more information about the American Lung Association or to support the work it does, call 1-800-LUNG-USA (1-800-586-4872) or log on to www.lungusa.org.