WHO calls for stricter smoking laws

The Globe Wellness Organization (WHO) called for "tougher laws and enforcement" that may prevent premature deaths from tobacco-related diseases, as outlined by a statement released on Monday.

The WHO statement says the tobacco epidemic kills almost 6 million individuals worldwide each year, mainly from heart disease, stroke, cancer and emphysema.

"Tobacco-related deaths account for 63 % of deaths from noncommunicable ailments in the planet nowadays," it says, adding that "passive or second-hand exposure to tobacco causes an estimated 600,000 deaths a year globally."

Dr. Michael O'Leary, WHO China Representative, said, "Tobacco use may be the top preventable cause of death, inside the planet and in China. Annually in China, about 1 million folks die from a tobacco-related heart attack, stroke, cancer, lung ailment or other condition. That does not include the people -- more than a quarter of them youngsters -- who die from exposure to second-hand smoke."

The statement says the socio-economic expense of tobacco use can be a reason for alarm, and that the annual death toll from the global epidemic of tobacco use could rise to 8 million by 2030.

It says getting killed 100 million men and women in the course of the 20th century, tobacco use could kill 1 billion in the course of the 21st century.

In observance of World No Tobacco Day on Tuesday, WHO calls on governments and stakeholders worldwide to use the provisions of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) because the basis for laws for "a 100 % ban on indoor smoking, comprehensive bans on advertising, promotion and sponsorship, bans on sale to minors, graphic wellbeing warnings and greater rates and taxes for tobacco products," it says.

"These are policy measures that may save lives and will also result in billions of dollars saved by stopping diseases, productivity losses and deaths from tobacco use," the statement says.

It quotes Dr O'Leary as saying, "Today we wish to highlight the treaty's overall significance, to strain China's obligations as a Party towards the treaty and to promote the essential role of the Conference of the Parties and WHO in supporting China's efforts to meet these obligations."

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