WHO FCTC

26/03/2026

NEWS RELEASE
🌍 International meeting to advance to***co control and sustainable development underway in Yerevan

Government officials, international experts and public health leaders from more than a dozen countries gathered this week in Yerevan, Armenia to advance — a global initiative to strengthen to***co control and accelerate progress toward sustainable development.

📅 The three-day meeting (25–27 March), convened by the Secretariat of the WHO Framework Convention on To***co Control in collaboration with the WHO country office in Armenia, is reviewing progress in to***co control, addressing challenges in implementing the WHO FCTC, and setting priorities for future action.

Participants are discussing key policy areas including:

🚭 Regulation of new types of to***co products
⚖️ Enforcement of to***co control laws
📦 Health warnings on packaging
🔎 Measures to combat illicit trade

Armenia is hosting the meeting in recognition of the country’s progress in to***co control with support from , and will also host next year’s sessions of the Conference of the Parties to the WHO FCTC and the Meeting of the Parties to the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in To***co Products.

The FCTC 2030 initiative supports countries in implementing evidence-based to***co control measures and contributes to broader development goals. With to***co use claiming more than 7 million lives each year globally, sustained collaboration and strong policy action remain essential.



🔗 More information: https://fctc.who.int/newsroom/news/item/26-03-2026-yerevan-hosts-international-meeting-to-advance-to***co-control-and-public-health

World Health Organization - WHO Country Office in Armenia

25/03/2026

📍 Yerevan, Armenia | 25–27 March 2026

The meeting to advance to***co control and public health starts today in Yerevan, bringing together government representatives, experts and partners from more than a dozen countries under the FCTC 2030 Project 🌍🚭.

Convened by the Secretariat of the WHO FCTC in collaboration with the World Health Organization - WHO Country Office in Armenia , the three-day meeting focuses on reviewing progress, addressing challenges and setting priorities for stronger national to***co control policies.

Stay tuned for the full press release and key highlights from the meeting. 📢

24/03/2026

The Secretariat of the WHO FCTC organized the Multi-Country Workshop to Promote the Accession/Ratification of the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in To***co Products 🌍🚭 in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, bringing together representatives from several African countries and partners to strengthen efforts against illicit to***co trade.

The meeting was marked by the presence of Pierre N’gou Dimba, Hon. Minister of Health, Public Hygiene and Universal Health Coverage of Côte d’Ivoire 🇨🇮, reflecting the country’s strong commitment to advancing to***co control and regional cooperation.

Discussions focused on reviewing national ratification processes 📊, sharing experiences among countries 🤝, and developing concrete roadmaps 🗺️ to support accession to the Protocol and protect public health.

Learn more about the Protocol
https://fctc.who.int/protocol

24/03/2026

incidence is strongly linked to to***co use, and smoking is predicted to cause an excess of 18 million TB cases and 40 million deaths between 2010 and 2050 💀

Evidence shows that reducing to***co use improves TB outcomes. To***co control interventions such as:

🟤 cessation
🟤 to***co tax measures

can significantly help ❗️

Implementing the WHO FCTC is key —

Yes! We can



https://fctc.who.int/publications/m/item/integrating-to***co-control-into-tuberculosis-and-hiv-responses

20/03/2026

The to***co industry must be held accountable for harming our health and polluting our environment with plastic waste and toxic chemicals.

Articles 17 & 18 of the WHO FCTC highlights how to***co control policies can also contribute to environmental protection and sustainable development.

Why this matters for the environment: 🌻 🌎 🌏 🌎

• Article 17 – Economically viable alternatives: 🌾

Encourages governments to support farmers and workers in transitioning away from to***co production toward sustainable livelihoods. This diversification can reduce environmental pressures linked to to***co monoculture and support more resilient rural economies.

• Article 18 – Protection of the environment and health: 🌿🛡️

Calls on Parties to consider environmental and health impacts associated with to***co cultivation and manufacturing, including land degradation, chemical inputs, and broader ecological harm.

Together, these provisions create a policy pathway where public health, agriculture, rural development, and environmental protection intersect. The recommendations provide governments with a framework to design policies, research programmes, and rural development strategies that facilitate sustainable alternatives while safeguarding ecosystems and communities. 🌱

This is an important reminder that implementing the WHO FCTC is not only a health intervention — it is also part of the broader agenda for sustainable food systems, environmental protection, and equitable economic transition.

It's time to act, NOW:

🌍 Protect our planet



Learn more

🔎 https://fctc.who.int/newsroom/spotlight/environment

17/03/2026

Lao PDR 🇱🇦 strengthens action against to***co industry interference and reinforces its e-cigarette ban.

A whole-of-government approach is key to protecting public health and preventing ni****ne addiction among youth.




🔗https://fctc.who.int/newsroom/news/item/16-03-2026-lao-pdr-enhances-whole-of-government-action-to-prevent-to***co-industry-interference-and-strengthen-ends-ban

13/03/2026

🚭 Illicit trade in to***co products poses a serious threat to global public health, security and government revenues. 🌍💰

📜 The Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in To***co Products is an international treaty with the objective of eliminating all forms of illicit trade in to***co products through a package of measures implemented by countries in cooperation with each other. 🤝

🌱 The implementation of the Protocol supports Parties in achieving these SDG Goals:

💚 – Good Health and Well-Being
⚖️ – Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
📈 – Decent Work and Economic Growth

✨ The Protocol helps to:

✔️ Sustain the advances from the WHO Framework Convention on To***co Control
💰 Prevent revenue losses by governments
🚫 Counteract the “scare” tactics of the to***co industry against tax increases

Learn more ->
https://fctc.who.int/protocol

12/03/2026

🚭 This week, stakeholders in the United Republic of Tanzania 🇹🇿 and the Secretariat of the WHO FCTC are coming together for a dedicated workshop to promote accession to the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in To***co Products.

Acceding to the Protocol would help protect public health, reduce revenue losses, and combat organized crime linked to illicit to***co trade.

https://fctc.who.int/protocol

11/03/2026

📢 Call for Expressions of Interest – Working Groups under the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in To***co Products

The Secretariat of the WHO FCTC invites experts and representatives from Parties to express interest in participating in working groups supporting the implementation of the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in To***co Products.

🔹 Working Group on Article 6.5 – Evidence-based research
This group will support work related to evidence-based research on key inputs used in the manufacture of to***co products and their potential control mechanisms.

📅 Deadline: 20 March 2026
📝 How to apply: Submit an expression of interest by completing the nomination process through the Convention Secretariat as described here:
👉 https://fctc.who.int/newsroom/articles/item/call-for-expression-working-group-on-article-6.5-of-the-protocol

🔹 Working Group on Article 24 – Assistance and cooperation
This group will focus on identifying good practices and strengthening international cooperation on the investigation and prosecution of offences related to illicit to***co trade.

📅 Deadline: 20 March 2026
📝 How to apply: Parties should submit their expression of interest and nomination of representatives following the instructions provided here:
👉 https://fctc.who.int/newsroom/articles/item/call-for-expression-working-group-on-article-24

🌍 These working groups will contribute to strengthening global cooperation and advancing implementation of the Protocol to eliminate illicit trade in to***co products

10/03/2026

🇨🇮 Côte d’Ivoire is strengthening its efforts to combat illicit to***co trade.

The Secretariat of the WHO FCTC conducted a Protocol Needs Assessment to support the country in implementing the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in To***co Products.

The Protocol provides a global framework to tackle illicit to***co trade by strengthening supply chain controls, improving enforcement and promoting international cooperation.

By identifying key gaps and opportunities, this process helps countries build stronger systems to protect public health and reduce the harms caused by illicit to***co markets.

From 23-27 February 2026, an international team conducted a needs assessment mission to support implementation of the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in To***co Products (the Protocol) in Côte d’Ivoire.  The mission included representatives of the Ministry of Health, Public Hygiene and...

09/03/2026

Christine Torres from the Philippine Legislators' Committee on Population and Development shares how the to***co industry hooks women and girls on its deadly products.

̇nternationalwomensday

Together, we can build a healthier, to***co-free future. 💜



***coControl


Child Rights Network (CRN) Philippines

09/03/2026

Nova Marzelius, affiliated with A Non Smoking Generation eminds us that protecting health is part of advancing rights and justice.



Together, we can build a healthier, to***co-free future. 💜



***coControl