Develop legislation to fix liability on tobacco industry: WHO FCTC

WHO's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) on Saturday urged its members to develop legislation to fix liability on the tobacco industry for the harm caused by their products to people.

The FCTC convention also urged parties to prohibit or regulate Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS), such as e-cigarettes.

The convention expressed concern over the health impact of ENDS and electronic non-nicotine delivery systems (ENNDS).

The 180-member countries were asked to develop civil liability clauses in their legislations under article 19 of the WHO-FCTC, which calls for civil liability to be imposed on the tobacco industry for the harm caused by their products.

The six-day WHO FCTC COP 7 concluded on Saturday at the India Exposition Mart here. The ceremony was attended by Minister of State for Health Anupriya Patel.

"We have an obligation to protect vulnerable members of the tobacco production chain. But we do that not through encouraging more growing, as the tobacco industry does, but through the development of solid, sustainable alternatives that will promote a better future for farmers and their families," said Vera Luiza da Costa e Silva, head of the

Convention Secretariat of WHO FCTC.

Also, non-tobacco producing countries were asked not to start growing tobacco.

The countries were asked to carry out research on tobacco use and tobacco control and its consequences among girls and women, as well as boys and men, with special attention to vulnerable groups, in respect to social determinants of health.

--IANS

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