WASHINGTON, March 15 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Two American Heart Association officials, Diane Canova, vice president for advocacy and Richard Hamburg, director of government relations today urged support for an international effort to enact stronger restr

The Association's officials were among other public health organizations, medical professionals, tobacco industry officials and interested individuals issuing positions today on the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), a proposed international treaty intended to address the global problem of tobacco use, at a day-long public meeting held at the Ronald Reagan International Trade Center. "As the world's leading exporter of tobacco products, the United States has a moral responsibility to address the adverse impact of its products on global public health," Canova said. "As a part of any effort to address tobacco use on a global front, the United States should act as a world leader in promoting public health. If any measure to confront domestic tobacco use is passed, it must also tackle the health problems caused by the use of American tobacco products abroad." She added that tobacco products account for three million deaths worldwide each year, and by 2025, that number is expected to rise to 10 million, with more than 70 percent of tobacco-related deaths occurring in developing nations. Hamburg reiterated her sentiment and added that a "do no harm" principle should govern U.S. tobacco policy. "Implementing this principle in U.S. foreign policy, and particularly in trade policy, has proven much more difficult than implementing it domestically," he explained. "The U.S. government has a long history of serving as a advocate for U.S. economic interests abroad. Advocacy efforts include promoting U.S. products and companies, objecting when other countries threaten to impose regulations opposed by U.S. companies, and threatening other countries with trade sanctions for discriminating against U.S. products." Canova also said that any international effort should only strengthen already existing regulations and restrictions in various nations. "Nothing in the Framework Convention or related protocols should reduce, relax or in any other way diminish existing tobacco control initiatives, regulations, laws, or practices of any signatory," she explained. "Nothing in the Convention or its protocols should prevent or discourage a party from taking stronger action than required by the Convention or its protocols." Canova added: "Unfortunately, the influence of the tobacco industry is broad in scope. Historically, U.S. government agencies and Members of Congress have assisted U.S. companies in their efforts to expand tobacco advertising, promotion and exports around the world." The American Heart Association is hopeful that its comments will influence the U.S. delegation to support the strongest possible treaty and protocols. Last May, the World Health Assembly, the governing body of the World Health Organization adopted a measure calling for talks on an international tobacco control treaty. Since then, the U.S. has joined other nations in support of these talks. In October, the FCTC working group held its first meeting in Geneva and plans to meet later this month for further discussions. The treaty text, which an intergovernmental negotiating body will negotiate for the next three years, is targeted for a May 2003 date by the Assembly.

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