WHO convention calls for monitoring waterpipe tobacco use

A draft decision of WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) has urged nations to monitor waterpipe tobacco through their respective national surveillance systems and also ban the use of flavourings in such products.
"Concerned about the growing use of flavoured waterpipe tobacco among youth and the increasing influence of the tobacco industry over waterpipe regulation and production, we invite parties (nations) to continue to monitor waterpipe tobacco use through national surveillance systems to cover all age groups and all policy aspects in an integrated approach, and submit the findings to the COP through the reporting instrument of WHO FCTC," the draft said.

It also stressed on the need for inter country and regional coordination in sharing of experiences and knowledge to prevent and control waterpipe tobacco use.
The draft decision also asked the nations to include perils of waterpipe use under the 'ban of tobacco use in public places' as per Article 8 of the convention and its guidelines.
A study conducted earlier in the year had warned that even light-use hookah or waterpipe smokers may develop lung function abnormalities, including marked changes in cells lining the airways.
A senior WHO FCTC official said that the draft decision was being discussed and the final decision may come out soon.

The seventh session of Conference of Parties (CoP7) of the World Health Organization's Framework Convention for Tobacco Control (WHO-FCTC) is being hosted by India for the first time.