Meeting to discuss cooperation on the implementation of the Protocol to eliminate the illicit trade in tobacco products

17 December 2009

Report

WCO Secretary General, Kunio Mikuriya met Dr. Haik Nikogosian, Head of the Convention Secretariat of the World Health Organization (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) at WCO headquarters in Brussels on 17 December 2009.

The meeting was aimed at discussing possible ways of cooperation on the implementation of the Protocol to eliminate the illicit trade in tobacco products on the basis of Article 15 of the FCTC. The text of the Protocol is being negotiated by an Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB) which will hold its fourth session in March 2010 in Geneva. Should the text of the Protocol be approved by this date, the Conference of the Parties (COP), comprising all Parties to the Convention, will adopt it during their fourth session which will be held in November 2010 in Uruguay.

Bearing in mind the crucial role played by the Customs community in the fight against the illicit trade in tobacco products, the WCO Secretariat encourages all its Members, especially those who are Parties to the FCTC, to examine the Protocol and to participate in its further development.

Issues related to a global “tracking and tracing” regime, international cooperation on information exchange, and capacity building were other important issues that were discussed. The WCO Secretary General assured support to the Convention Secretariat and to Members in the future implementation of the Protocol.

Resources

The full negotiating text for the Protocol on Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products and other relevant documents are available on a dedicated website created by the WHO FCTC Convention Secretariat: www.who.int/gb/fctc