Draft recommendation aimed at banning TAPS presented to

A draft recommendation aimed at banning Tobacco Advertising Promotion and Sponsorship (TAPS) was put forth to countries taking part in the ongoing WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).
India is hosting the Seventh Session of the Conference of Parties (COP7) to World Health Organization FCTC for the first time.
The recommendations addresses the growing challenges faced by countries in controlling cross-border advertising in entertainment media.
The draft recommendations has provisions of monitoring and recording various forms of TAPS in entertainment media and cross-border advertising.
"A draft recommendation was presented to the Parties aimed at banning TAPS. It addresses the growing challenges Parties face in controlling cross-border advertising in entertainment media.

"Among its provisions is monitoring and recording various forms of TAPS in entertainment media and cross-border advertising.

"It will prioritize national-level prohibitions on cross-border advertising and develop biannual reporting on the status of TAPS in entertainment media and cross-border advertising. It will also review trends, practices and the parties involved," an official statement said.
The statement, added, however that the countries are presently considering decisions linked to 37 agenda documents.
"Much of the work is now at committee stage and once draft decisions are agreed upon they are moved up for final adoption at the end of the week in Saturday's plenary session," it said.

Among the agendas being discussed is the full application of the WHO FCTC articles in all aspects of waterpipe use, including tobacco used in the waterpipes and accessories.
"Details are expected to be finalised tomorrow. Delegates are considering how to monitor waterpipe tobacco and all policy aspects," the statement said.
The countries are also discussing about policy options related to electronic nicotine delivery systems and electronic non-nicotine delivery systems at the committee stage.
"Given the variance of the Parties' approaches, a decision is expected tomorrow. Decisions at COP are traditionally made on a consensus basis and it is anticipated this will apply in this case," it said.

The countries also organised a series of important events that highlight various aspects of the Convention and its implementation nationally and globally, including Brazil hosting a session on healthier and environmentally friendly alternatives to tobacco cultivation.
"The Parties are engaged on working with the largest agenda of any previous COP. We are now extended to night-time sessions to get through the immense amount of decisions that must be made, but I am impressed with the high-level of commitment and intelligence directed in the drafting process.
"By Saturday the Parties will have made enormous strides on behalf of the Convention," said Vera Luiza da Costa e Silva, head of the Convention Secretariat.