On Jan 23, WHO published a draft of the international treaty on tobacco control, which envisages tough measures against smoking but no ban on sponsorship and advertising, which was sought by the UN health agency.

The draft was drawn up by Celso Amorim, chairman of the treaty's Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB). The Brazilian diplomat said his text was a compromise based on discussions at the body's meeting last year. It will be considered at the next INB session in May. The document's aim is to "reduce the prevalence of tobacco use and thus protect present and future generations from the devastating health, social, environmental, and economic consequences of tobacco consumption and exposure to tobacco smoke".

The text proposes more taxes and an end to duty-free sales; more effective criminal legislation and cross-border cooperation against smuggling; labelling controls on terms such as "low-tar", and better prevention of passive smoking. Amorim's draft also proposes phasing out sporting sponsorship and a ban on all forms of advertising and promotion aimed at people less than 18-years old. But the INB does not envisage a total ban--even though this was WHO's top priority and was supported by more than 20 countries at the INB's last meeting.

USA, in particular, says it cannot accept prohibition as this would be unconstitutional. Clive Bates, director of ASH UK, described the advertising provisions as "completely unworkable" but was confident they would be revised at the INB's next session.

"It's nonsense to say that you can prohibit sponsorship targeted at persons under the age of 18. We know that adverts targeted at the older age group appeal to the younger age group", he said. "But overall it's a good text", said Bates. WHO wants the treaty to be in place by 2003 to try to prevent smoking related deaths reaching a predicted 10 million per year by 2030.