Likumprojekts

Veselības ministrs

R.Muciņš

Šīs Konvencija Puses,

Apņēmās piešķirt prioritāti savām tiesībām aizsargāt sabiedrības veselību,

Atspoguļo starptautiskās sabiedrības bažas par pasaules mēroga postošo tabakas patēriņa un pakļaušanu tabakas dūmiem iedarbību uz veselību, par šīs iedarbības sociālajām, ekonomiskajām un vides sekām,

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Šīs Konvencijas nolūkā:

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1. Katram cilvēkam ir jābūt informētam par tabakas patēriņa un pakļaušanu tabakas dūmiem radītām veselības sekām, kaitīgu ieradumu veicināšanu un mirstības briesmām, un attiecīgajā valdības līmenī būtu jāpārskata efektīvi likumdošanas, izpildvaras, administratīvie un citi pasākumi ar mērķi aizsargāt visus cilvēkus no pakļaušanas tabakas dūmiem.

2. Ir nepieciešama stingra politiskā apņemšanās, lai izstrādātu un atbalstītu valsts, reģionālajā un starptautiskajā līmenī visaptverošus starpsektoru pasākumus un koordinētu attiecīgo rīcību, ņemot vērā sekojošo:

4. Visaptveroši daudzsektrou pasākumi un centieni samazināt visu tabakas izstrādājumu lietošanu valsts, reģionālajā un starptautiskajā līmenī ir būtiski, saskaņā ar sabiedrības veselības principiem, saslimstības izraisīšanas, priekšlaicīgas invaliditātes un mirstības tabakas patēriņa un pakļautības tabakas dūmiem novēršanai.

5. Jautājumi, kas attiecas uz atbildību, kā noteikts katrai Pusei tās jurisdikcijas ietvaros, ir svarīga visaptverošas tabakas uzraudzības sastāvdaļa.

7. Civiliedzīvotāju piedalīšanās ir būtiska Konvencijas un tās protokolos noteikto mērķu sasniegšanai.

1. Katra Puse izstrādās, ieviesīs, periodiski papildinās un pārskatīs visaptverošas daudzsektoru valsts tabakas uzraudzības stratēģijas, plānus un programmas, saskaņā ar šo Konvenciju un protokoliem, kuras dalībniece ir Puse.

2. Līdz ar šo katra Puse, atbilstoši savām iespējām:

3. Puses, ieviešot un nosakot attiecīgās sabiedrības veselības politikas tabakas uzraudzības jomā, darbosies ar mērķi aizsargāt šīs politikas no komerciālām un cita veida likumīgām tabakas industrijas interesēm, saskaņā ar valsts likumdošanu.

4. Puses sadarbosies piedāvāto pasākumu, procedūru un vadlīniju formulēšanā Konvencijas un tās protokolu, kuru dalībnieces ir Puses, ieviešanā.

5. Puses, kur piemērots, sadarbosies, ar kompetentām starptautiskām un reģionālām starpvaldību organizācijām un citām struktūrām, lai sasniegtu Konvencijas un tās protokolu mērķus, kuru dalībnieces ir Puses.

6. Puses, tām pieejamo līdzekļu un resursu ietvaros, sadarbosies ar mērķi iegūt finansu resursus efektīvai Konvencijas ieviešanai ar divpusēju un daudzpusēju finansēšanas mehānismu palīdzību.

1. Puses atzīst, ka cenu un nodokļu pasākumi ir iedarbīgs un svarīgs tabakas pieprasījuma patēriņa samazināšanas līdzeklis dažādos iedzīvotāju segmentos, īpaši jauniešu vidū.

3. Puses nodrošinās nodokļu likmes tabakas izstrādājumiem un informāciju par tendencēm tabakas patēriņam savos periodiskajos ziņojumos Pušu Konferencei, saskaņā ar 21.pantu.

1.Puses atzīst, ka pastāv nepārprotami zinātniski pierādījumi tam, ka pakļaušana tabakas dūmiem izraisa nāvi, slimības un invaliditāti.

Katra Puse, saskaņā ar tās valsts likumdošanu, pieņems un ieviesīs efektīvus likumdošanas, izpildvaras, administratīvos un citus pasākumus, kas prasa tabakas izstrādājumu ražotājiem un importētājiem atklāt valdības iestādēm informāciju par tabakas izstrādājumu saturu un izplūdi.

Katra Puse tālāk attiecīgi pieņems un ieviesīs efektīvus pasākumus informācijas izpaušanai sabiedrībai par tabakas izstrādājumu toksiskajām sastāvdaļām un to radītajām izplūdēm.

3. Katra Puse pieprasīs, lai brīdinājumi un cita tekstuālā informācija, noteikta šī panta paragrāfos 1(b) un 2, parādītos uz katras paciņas un tabakas izstrādājumu paciņas un uz jebkura šādu izstrādājumu ārējā iepakojuma un marķējuma tās pamata valodā vai valodās.

4. Šī panta nolūkā termins “ārējais iepakojums un marķējums” attiecībā uz tabakas izstrādājumiem ir attiecināms uz jebkuru iepakojumu un marķējumu, kuru izmanto izstrādājumu mazumtirdzniecībā.

Katra Puse sekmēs un nostiprinās sabiedrības apziņu par tabakas uzraudzības jautājumiem, izmantojot visus pieejamos komunikāciju instrumentus, kur piemērots. Līdz šim, katra Puse pieņems un ieviesīs efektīvus likumdošanas, izpildvaras, administratīvos un citus pasākumus, lai veicinātu:

4. Kā minimums un saskaņā ar tās konstitūciju vai konstitūcijas principiem, katra Puse:

5. Puses tiek iedrošinātas ieviest pasākumus ārpus 4. paragrāfā noteiktajām saistībām.

8. Puses apsvērs iespēju izstrādāt protokolu, kas nosaka atbilstošus pasākumus, kam nepieciešama starptautiska sadarbība vispārējai pārobežu reklāmai, veicināšanai un sponsorēšanai.

1. Katra Puse izstrādās un izplatīs atbalstošas, vispārējas un integrētas vadlīnijas, pamatotas uz zinātniskiem pierādījumiem un vislabāko praksi, ņemot vērā valsts apstākļus un prioritātes, un veiks efektīvus pasākumus, lai veicinātu tabakas lietošanas pārtraukšanu un adekvātu ārstēšanu no tabakas atkarības.

2. Līdz šim Puses centīsies paveikt sekojošo:

3. Katra Puse pieprasīs, lai informācija uz iepakojuma vai marķējuma, noteikta šī panta 2. paragrāfā, būtu izvietota salasāmā veidā un/vai parādītos uz tās pamata valodā vai valodās.

4. Katra Puse, ar nolūku ierobežot nelegālo tabakas izstrādājumu tirdzniecību, uzņemsies sekojošo:

6. Puses, kur piemērojams, un saskaņā ar valsts likumdošanu, veicinās sadarbību starp valsts aģentūrām, kā arī attiecīgajām reģionālajām un starptautiskajām starpvalstu organizācijām, attiecībā uz izmeklēšanu, lietu ierosināšanu un tiesvedību, ar nolūku ierobežot tabakas izstrādājumu nelegālo tirdzniecību. Īpašs uzsvars ir jāliek uz sadarbību starp reģionālajiem un mazāka administratīvā iedalījuma reģionālajiem līmeņiem, lai apkarotu nelikumīgo tirdzniecību ar tabakas izstrādājumiem.

1. Katra Puse pieņems un ieviesīs iedarbīgus likumdošanas, izpildvaras, administratīvos un citus pasākumus, kur piemērojams, attiecīgajā valdības līmenī, lai aizliegtu tabakas izstrādājumu tirdzniecību nepilngadīgām personām, saskaņā ar vietējo, valsts likumdošanu vai personām, kas jaunākas par astoņpadsmit gadiem. Šie pasākumi var ietvert sekojošo:

2. Katra Puse aizliegs vai aizliegs veicināt tabakas izstrādājumu izplatīšanu par velti sabiedrībai un īpaši nepilngadīgajiem.

3. Katra Puse centīsies aizliegt cigarešu tirdzniecību individuāli vai mazās paciņās, kas palielina šādu produktu pieejamību nepilngadīgajiem.

4. Puses atzīst, ka nolūkā palielināt savu efektivitāti, pasākumi tabakas produktu tirdzniecības novēršanai un nepilngadīgajiem, kur piemērojams, ir jāievieš saskaņā ar citiem šajā Konvencijā noteiktajiem nosacījumiem.

6. Katra Puse pieņems un ieviesīs iedarbīgus likumdošanas, izpildvaras, administratīvos un citus pasākumus, ieskaitot naudas sodus tirgotājiem un izplatītājiem, lai nodrošinātu atbilstību šī panta 1.-5. paragrāfos noteiktajām saistībām.

7. Katrai Pusei, kur piemērojams, būtu jāpieņem un jāievieš efektīvi likumdošanas, izpildvaras, administratīvie vai citi pasākumi, lai aizliegtu tabakas produktu tirdzniecību personām, kuras jaunākas par vietējās, valsts likumdošanas noteikto vecumu vai jaunākas par astoņpadsmit gadiem.

Puses, sadarbojoties viena ar otru un ar kompetentām starptautiskām un reģionālām starpvalstu organizācijām, veicinās, kur piemērots, ekonomiski dzīvotspējīgas alternatīvas tabakas industrijas attīstību strādniekiem, audzētājiem, atkarībā no gadījuma, individuāliem tirgotājiem.

Puses, realizējot savas saistības šīs Konvencijas ietvaros, vienojas pievērst pienācīgu uzmanību vides aizsardzībai un cilvēku veselībai attiecībā uz vidi tabakas kultivēšanas un ražošanas aspektā savās attiecīgajās teritorijās.

Atbildība.

2. Puses sadarbosies viena ar otru informācijas apmaiņā ar Pušu Konferences starpniecību, saskaņā ar 21. pantu, ieskaitot sekojošo:

3. Puses, kur piemērojams, un savstarpēji vienojoties, tās valsts likumdošanas, politikas, likuma prakses un piemērojamo esošo savstarpējo līgumu ietvaros, piedāvās palīdzēt viena otrai tiesvedības gadījumos, attiecībā uz kriminālo atbildību, saskaņā ar šo Konvenciju.

4. Konvencija nekāda veidā neietekmēs vai neierobežos jebkuras Pušu piekļūšanas tiesības viena otras tiesām, kur šādas tiesības pastāv.

5. Pušu Konference var apsvērt, ja iespējams, agrīnā stadijā, ņemot vērā paveikto darbu attiecīgajā starptautiskajā forumā, jautājumus, kas attiecas uz atbildību, ieskaitot atbilstošu starptautisko pieeju šiem jautājumiem un atbilstošus atbalsta līdzekļus, pēc pieprasījuma, Puses, savas likumdošanas ietvaros un attiecībā uz citām aktivitātēs, darbosies saskaņā ar šo pantu.

1. Puses apņemas attīstīt un veicināt valsts mēroga izpēti un koordinēt izpētes programmas reģionālajos un starptautiskajos līmeņos tabakas uzraudzības jomā. Līdz šim, katra Puse uzņemas veikt sekojošo:

3. Puses atzīst finansu un tehniskās palīdzības nozīmīgumu no starptautiskām un reģionālām starpvalstu organizācijām un citām struktūrām. Katra Puse uzņemsies sekojošo:

4. Puses, saskaņā ar valsts likumdošanu, veicinās un sekmēs publiski pieejamu zinātnisko, tehnisko, sociālekonomisko, komerciālo un likumdošanas informāciju, kā arī informāciju attiecībā uz tabakas industrijas praksi un tabakas kultivēšanu, kas attiecas uz šo Konvenciju, un to darot, ņems vērā un apsvērs Pušu attīstības valstu un Pušu valstu ar pārejas ekonomiku īpašās vajadzības. Katra Puse uzņemsies:

1. Katra Puse iesniegs Pušu Konferencei ar Sekretariāta starpniecību periodiskus ziņojumus par šīs Konvencijas ieviešanu, un ziņojumam ir jāietver sekojošais:

2. Pušu Konference noteiks šādas ziņošanas biežumu un formātu visām Pusēm. Katra Puse sastādīs savu sākuma ziņojumu divu gadu laikā pēc Konvencijas stāšanās spēkā attiecīgajai Pusei.

4. Ziņošana un informācijas apmaiņa šīs Konvencijas ietvaros ir pakļauta valsts likumdošanai attiecībā uz konfidencialitāti un slepenību. Puses aizsargās, savstarpēji vienojoties, jebkuru konfidenciālu informāciju, attiecībā uz kuru notiek apmaiņa.

2. Pušu Konference veicinās un sekmēs tehnisko, zinātnisko un likumdošanas ekspertīzes un tehnoloģiju nodošanu līdztekus finansu atbalstam, saskaņā ar 26. pantu.

1. Pušu Konference līdz ar šo iz izveidota. Konferences pirmo sesiju sasauks Pasaules Veselības organizācija ne vēlāk kā vienu gadu pēc šīs Konvencijas stāšanās spēkā. Konference noteiks turpmāko regulāro sesiju norises vietu un laiku tās pirmajā sesijā.

2. Konferences Pušu ārkārtas sesijas notiks citā laikā, kā to uzskatīs par nepieciešamu Konference, vai pēc rakstiska jebkuras Puses pieprasījuma, nodrošinot to, ka Konvencijas Sekretariāts šo pieprasījumu sešu mēnešu laikā ir nodevis Pusēm un to atbalsta viena trešdaļa no Pusēm.

1. Pušu Konference vienprātīgi pieņems Procedūras Noteikumus tās pirmajā sesijā.

4. Pušu Konference vienprātīgi pieņems finansu noteikumus pati sev, kā arī finansējumu jebkurai vadošai filiālei, ko tā var izveidot, kā arī finansu nodrošinājumu, kas nodrošina vadošā Sekretariāta funkcionēšanu. Katrā kārtējā sesijā tā pieņems budžetu finansu periodam līdz nākamajai kārtējai sesijai.

5. Pušu Konference regulāri pārskatīs Konvencijas ieviešanu un pieņems lēmumus, kas nepieciešami tās efektīvas ieviešanas veicināšanai un var pieņemt Konvencijas protokolus, pielikumus un grozījumus, saskaņā ar 28., 29. un 33. pantu. Līdz šim, tā paveiks sekojošo:

6. Pušu Konference izveidos kritērijus novērotāju dalībai lietu izskatīšanas gaitā.

1. Pušu Konference iecels pastāvīgu sekretariātu un veiks organizatoriskos pasākumus tā funkcionēšanai. Pušu Konference centīsies to paveikt savā pirmajā sesijā.

2. Līdz tam brīdim, kamēr tiks izveidots pastāvīgs sekretariāts, sekretariāta funkcijas šīs Konvencijas ietvaros nodrošinās Pasaules Veselības organizācija.

3. Sekretariāta funkcijas būs sekojošas:

Pušu Konference var pieprasīt kompetentu starptautisko un reģionālo starpvalstu organizāciju, ieskaitot finansu un attīstības institūciju, sadarbību ar mērķi nodrošināt tehnisko un finansu sadarbību šīs Konvencijas mērķu sasniegšanai.

1. Puses atzīst finansu resursu svarīgo lomu šīs Konvencijas mērķa sasniegšanā.

2. Katra Puse nodrošinās finansu atbalstu attiecībā uz tās valsts aktivitātēm, kas paredzētas Konvencijas mērķa sasniegšanai, saskaņā ar tās valsts plāniem, prioritātēm un programmām.

4. Puses, kas pārstāvētas attiecīgās reģionālās un starptautiskās starpvalstu organizācijās un finansu un attīstības institūcijās, iedrošinās šīs struktūras sniegt finansu palīdzību Pušu attīstības valstīm un Pušu valstīm ar pārejas ekonomiku, lai palīdzētu tām pildīt savas saistības Konvencijas ietvaros, neierobežojot to dalības tiesības šajās organizācijās.

5. Puses vienojas par sekojošo:

2. Ratificējot, pieņemot, apstiprinot, formāli apstiprinot vai pievienojoties Konvencijai, vai jebkurā laikā pēc tam, Valsts vai reģionālā ekonomiskā integrācijas organizācija var paziņot rakstiski deklarācijas veidā Depozitārijam par to, ka strīds, kas nav atrisināts saskaņā ar šī panta 1. paragrāfu, tas pieņem, kā obligātu, speciālu (ad hoc) arbitrāžu, saskaņā ar Pušu Konferences vienprātīgi pieņemtām procedūrām.

3. Šī panta nosacījumi tiks pielietoti attiecībā uz jebkuru starp pusēm noslēgto protokolu, ja vien tur nav noteikts savādāk.

1. Jebkura no Pusēm var piedāvāt grozījumus šai Konvencijai. Pušu Konference izskatīs šādus grozījumus.

4. Akceptēšanas instrumenti, attiecībā uz grozījumu, tiks glabāti Depozitārijā. Grozījums, akceptēts saskaņā ar šī panta 3. paragrāfu, stāsies spēkā tām Pusēm, kuras to akceptēja deviņdesmitajā dienā pēc tam, kad to būs saņēmis Depozitārijs, ar akceptēšanas instrumentu un to būs akceptējušas vismaz divas trešdaļas no Konvencijas Pusēm.

5. Grozījums stāsies spēkā jebkurai citai Pusei deviņdesmitajā dienā pēc tam, kad Puse nodos glabāšanā Depozitārijam tās akceptēšanas instrumentu, attiecībā uz minēto grozījumu.

2. Konvencijas pielikumi būs neatņemama sastāvdaļa un, ja vien nav skaidri noteikts savādāk, atsauce uz Konvenciju sastāda vienlaicīgi atsauci uz jebkuru ar to saistītajiem pielikumiem.

3. Pielikumi tiks ierobežoti ar sarakstiem, formām un jebkādu aprakstošu materiālu attiecībā uz procedūru, zinātniskajiem, tehniskajiem vai administratīvajiem jautājumiem.

Nekādi iebildumi nevar tikt veikti attiecībā uz šo Konvenciju.

1. Jebkurā laikā divus gadus pēc Konvencijas stāšanās spēkā dienas kādai no Pusēm, tā Puse var izstāties no Konvencijas, iesniedzot rakstisku paziņojumu Depozitārijam.

2. Jebkura šāda izstāšanās stāsies spēkā, beidzoties vienam gadam no dienas, kad Depozitārijs saņēma paziņojumu par izstāšanos, vai jebkurā vēlākā datumā, kā tas var būt noteikts izstāšanās paziņojumā.

3. Jebkura no Pusēm, kas izstājas no Konvencijas, tiks uzskatīta kā izstājusies no jebkura no protokoliem, kur tā bija iestājusies kā Puse.

1. Katrai šīs Konvencijas Pusei būs viena balss, izņemot gadījumus, kā tas noteikts šī panta 2. paragrāfā.

2. Reģionālās ekonomiskās integrācijas organizācijas, savas kompetences ietvaros, izmantos savas balss tiesības ar balsu skaitu, kas vienāds ar to Dalībvalstu skaitu, kas ir Konvencijas Puses. Šāda organizācijas neizmantos savas tiesības balsot, ja jebkura no tās Dalībvalstīm izmantos savas tiesības un otrādi.

3. Sekretariāts vismaz sešus mēnešus pirms sesijas, kad ir piedāvāta apstiprināšana, izplatīs jebkura piedāvāta protokola tekstu visām Pusēm.

4. Tikai un vienīgi Konvencijas Puses var būt protokola puses.

6. Prasības, lai jebkurš protokols stātos spēkā, tiks izstrādātas ar attiecīgo instrumentu.

3. Reģionālās ekonomiskās integrācijas organizācijas, attiecībā uz saviem instrumentiem saistībā ar formālu apstiprinājumu vai saviem pievienošanās instrumentiem, demonstrēs savu kompetenci attiecībā uz jautājumiem, kurus nosaka Konvencija. Šīs organizācijas arī informēs Depozitāriju, kas savukārt informēs Puses, par jebkuru būtisku grozījumu savas kompetences ietvaros.

1. Šī Konvencija stāsies spēkā deviņdesmitajā dienā pēc četrdesmitā ratifikācijas, akceptēšanas, apstiprināšanas, formālā apstiprināšanas vai pievienošanās instrumenta deponēšanas Depozitārijā.

2. Katrai Valstij, kas ratificē vai apstiprina Konvenciju vai pievienojas pēc tam, kad šī panta 1. paragrāfā definētie spēkā stāšanās nosacījumi ir izpildīti, Konvencija stāsies spēkā deviņdesmitajā dienā pēc datuma, kad tās ratifikācijas, akceptēšanas, apstiprināšanas vai pievienošanās instrumenti ir deponēti.

4. Šī panta nolūkā, jebkuru instrumentu, kurus ir deponējusi reģionālā ekonomiskās integrācijas organizācija, netiks uzskatīts kā papildus instruments tiem, kurus ir deponējušas organizācijas Dalībvalstis.

Šīs Konvencijas oriģināls, no kura arābu, ķīniešu, angļu, franču, krievu un spāņu valodas ir līdzvērtīgi autentiskas, tiks deponētas pie Apvienoto Nāciju Ģenerālsekretāra.

PAR PIERĀDĪJUMU apakšā parakstījušies, likumīgi pilnvaroti rīkoties, ir parakstījuši šo Konvenciju.

PRAKSTĪTS ŽENĒVĀ divi tūkstoši trešā gada divdesmit pirmajā maijā.

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The Parties to this Convention,

Determined to give priority to their right to protect public health,

Recognizing that the spread of the tobacco epidemic is a global problem with serious consequences for public health that calls for the widest possible international cooperation and the participation of all countries in an effective, appropriate and comprehensive international response,

Reflecting the concern of the international community about the devastating worldwide health, social, economic and environmental consequences of tobacco consumption and exposure to tobacco smoke,

Seriously concerned about the increase in the worldwide consumption and production of cigarettes and other tobacco products, particularly in developing countries, as well as about the burden this places on families, on the poor, and on national health systems,

Recognizing that scientific evidence has unequivocally established that tobacco consumption and exposure to tobacco smoke cause death, disease and disability, and that there is a time lag between the exposure to smoking and the other uses of tobacco products and the onset of tobacco-related diseases,

Recognizing also that cigarettes and some other products containing tobacco are highly engineered so as to create and maintain dependence, and that many of the compounds they contain and the smoke they produce are pharmacologically active, toxic, mutagenic and carcinogenic, and that tobacco dependence is separately classified as a disorder in major international classifications of diseases,

Acknowledging that there is clear scientific evidence that prenatal exposure to tobacco smoke causes adverse health and developmental conditions for children,

Deeply concerned about the escalation in smoking and other forms of tobacco consumption by children and adolescents worldwide, particularly smoking at increasingly early ages,

Alarmed by the increase in smoking and other forms of tobacco consumption by women and young girls worldwide and keeping in mind the need for full participation of women at all levels of policy-making and implementation and the need for gender-specific tobacco control strategies,

Deeply concerned about the high levels of smoking and other forms of tobacco consumption by indigenous peoples,

Seriously concerned about the impact of all forms of advertising, promotion and sponsorship aimed at encouraging the use of tobacco products,

Recognizing that cooperative action is necessary to eliminate all forms of illicit trade in cigarettes and other tobacco products, including smuggling, illicit manufacturing and counterfeiting,

Acknowledging that tobacco control at all levels and particularly in developing countries and in countries with economies in transition requires sufficient financial and technical resources commensurate with the current and projected need for tobacco control activities,

Recognizing the need to develop appropriate mechanisms to address the long-term social and economic implications of successful tobacco demand reduction strategies,

Mindful of the social and economic difficulties that tobacco control programmes may engender in the medium and long term in some developing countries and countries with economies in transition, and recognizing their need for technical and financial assistance in the context of nationally developed strategies for sustainable development,

Conscious of the valuable work being conducted by many States on tobacco control and commending the leadership of the World Health Organization as well as the efforts of other organizations and bodies of the United Nations system and other international and regional intergovernmental organizations in developing measures on tobacco control,

Emphasizing the special contribution of nongovernmental organizations and other members of civil society not affiliated with the tobacco industry, including health professional bodies, women’s, youth, environmental and consumer groups, and academic and health care institutions, to tobacco control efforts nationally and internationally and the vital importance of their participation in national and international tobacco control efforts,

Recognizing the need to be alert to any efforts by the tobacco industry to undermine or subvert tobacco control efforts and the need to be informed of activities of the tobacco industry that have a negative impact on tobacco control efforts,

Recalling Article 12 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 16 December 1966, which states that it is the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health,

Recalling also the preamble to the Constitution of the World Health Organization, which states that the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health is one of the fundamental rights of every human being without distinction of race, religion, political belief, economic or social condition,

Determined to promote measures of tobacco control based on current and relevant scientific, technical and economic considerations,

Recalling that the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 18 December 1979, provides that States Parties to that Convention shall take appropriate measures to eliminate discrimination against women in the field of health care,

Recalling further that the Convention on the Rights of the Child, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 20 November 1989, provides that States Parties to that Convention recognize the right of the child to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health,

Have agreed, as follows:

For the purposes of this Convention:

1. In order to better protect human health, Parties are encouraged to implement measures beyond those required by this Convention and its protocols, and nothing in these instruments shall prevent a Party from imposing stricter requirements that are consistent with their provisions and are in accordance with international law.

2. The provisions of the Convention and its protocols shall in no way affect the right of Parties to enter into bilateral or multilateral agreements, including regional or subregional agreements, on issues relevant or additional to the Convention and its protocols, provided that such agreements are compatible with their obligations under the Convention and its protocols. The Parties concerned shall communicate such agreements to the Conference of the Parties through the Secretariat.

Objective

The objective of this Convention and its protocols is to protect present and future generations from the devastating health, social, environmental and economic consequences of tobacco consumption and exposure to tobacco smoke by providing a framework for tobacco control measures to be implemented by the Parties at the national, regional and international levels in order to reduce continually and substantially the prevalence of tobacco use and exposure to tobacco smoke.

To achieve the objective of this Convention and its protocols and to implement its provisions, the Parties shall be guided, inter alia, by the principles set out below:

1. Every person should be informed of the health consequences, addictive nature and mortal threat posed by tobacco consumption and exposure to tobacco smoke and effective legislative, executive, administrative or other measures should be contemplated at the appropriate governmental level to protect all persons from exposure to tobacco smoke.

2. Strong political commitment is necessary to develop and support, at the national, regional and international levels, comprehensive multisectoral measures and coordinated responses, taking into consideration:

3. International cooperation, particularly transfer of technology, knowledge and financial assistance and provision of related expertise, to establish and implement effective tobacco control programmes, taking into consideration local culture, as well as social, economic, political and legal factors, is an important part of the Convention.

4. Comprehensive multisectoral measures and responses to reduce consumption of all tobacco products at the national, regional and international levels are essential so as to prevent, in accordance with public health principles, the incidence of diseases, premature disability and mortality due to tobacco consumption and exposure to tobacco smoke.

5. Issues relating to liability, as determined by each Party within its jurisdiction, are an important part of comprehensive tobacco control.

6. The importance of technical and financial assistance to aid the economic transition of tobacco growers and workers whose livelihoods are seriously affected as a consequence of tobacco control programmes in developing country Parties, as well as Parties with economies in transition, should be recognized and addressed in the context of nationally developed strategies for sustainable development.

7. The participation of civil society is essential in achieving the objective of the Convention and its protocols.

1. Each Party shall develop, implement, periodically update and review comprehensive multisectoral national tobacco control strategies, plans and programmes in accordance with this Convention and the protocols to which it is a Party.

2. Towards this end, each Party shall, in accordance with its capabilities:

3. In setting and implementing their public health policies with respect to tobacco control, Parties shall act to protect these policies from commercial and other vested interests of the tobacco industry in accordance with national law.

4. The Parties shall cooperate in the formulation of proposed measures, procedures and guidelines for the implementation of the Convention and the protocols to which they are Parties.

5. The Parties shall cooperate, as appropriate, with competent international and regional intergovernmental organizations and other bodies to achieve the objectives of the Convention and the protocols to which they are Parties.

6. The Parties shall, within means and resources at their disposal, cooperate to raise financial resources for effective implementation of the Convention through bilateral and multilateral funding mechanisms.

Price and tax measures to reduce the demand for tobacco

1. The Parties recognize that price and tax measures are an effective and important means of reducing tobacco consumption by various segments of the population, in particular young persons.

2. Without prejudice to the sovereign right of the Parties to determine and establish their taxation policies, each Party should take account of its national health objectives concerning tobacco control and adopt or maintain, as appropriate, measures which may include:

3. The Parties shall provide rates of taxation for tobacco products and trends in tobacco consumption in their periodic reports to the Conference of the Parties, in accordance with Article 21.

The Parties recognize that comprehensive non-price measures are an effective and important means of reducing tobacco consumption. Each Party shall adopt and implement effective legislative, executive, administrative or other measures necessary to implement its obligations pursuant to Articles 8 to 13 and shall cooperate, as appropriate, with each other directly or through competent international bodies with a view to their implementation. The Conference of the Parties shall propose appropriate guidelines for the implementation of the provisions of these Articles.

1. Parties recognize that scientific evidence has unequivocally established that exposure to tobacco smoke causes death, disease and disability.

2. Each Party shall adopt and implement in areas of existing national jurisdiction as determined by national law and actively promote at other jurisdictional levels the adoption and implementation of effective legislative, executive, administrative and/or other measures, providing for protection from exposure to tobacco smoke in indoor workplaces, public transport, indoor public places and, as appropriate, other public places.

The Conference of the Parties, in consultation with competent international bodies, shall propose guidelines for testing and measuring the contents and emissions of tobacco products, and for the regulation of these contents and emissions. Each Party shall, where approved by competent national authorities, adopt and implement effective legislative, executive and administrative or other measures for such testing and measuring, and for such regulation.

Each Party shall, in accordance with its national law, adopt and implement effective legislative, executive, administrative or other measures requiring manufacturers and importers of tobacco products to disclose to governmental authorities information about the contents and emissions of tobacco products. Each Party shall further adopt and implement effective measures for public disclosure of information about the toxic constituents of the tobacco products and the emissions that they may produce.

1. Each Party shall, within a period of three years after entry into force of this Convention for that Party, adopt and implement, in accordance with its national law, effective measures to ensure that:

2. Each unit packet and package of tobacco products and any outside packaging and labelling of such products shall, in addition to the warnings specified in paragraph 1(b) of this Article, contain information on relevant constituents and emissions of tobacco products as defined by national authorities.

3. Each Party shall require that the warnings and other textual information specified in paragraphs 1(b) and paragraph 2 of this Article will appear on each unit packet and package of tobacco products and any outside packaging and labelling of such products in its principal language or languages.

Each Party shall promote and strengthen public awareness of tobacco control issues, using all available communication tools, as appropriate. Towards this end, each Party shall adopt and implement effective legislative, executive, administrative or other measures to promote:

1. Parties recognize that a comprehensive ban on advertising, promotion and sponsorship would reduce the consumption of tobacco products.

2. Each Party shall, in accordance with its constitution or constitutional principles, undertake a comprehensive ban of all tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship. This shall include, subject to the legal environment and technical means available to that Party, a comprehensive ban on cross-border advertising, promotion and sponsorship originating from its territory. In this respect, within the period of five years after entry into force of this Convention for that Party, each Party shall undertake appropriate legislative, executive, administrative and/or other measures and report accordingly in conformity with Article 21.

3. A Party that is not in a position to undertake a comprehensive ban due to its constitution or constitutional principles shall apply restrictions on all tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship. This shall include, subject to the legal environment and technical means available to that Party, restrictions or a comprehensive ban on advertising, promotion and sponsorship originating from its territory with cross-border effects. In this respect, each Party shall undertake appropriate legislative, executive, administrative and/or other measures and report accordingly in conformity with Article 21.

4. As a minimum, and in accordance with its constitution or constitutional principles, each Party shall:

5. Parties are encouraged to implement measures beyond the obligations set out in paragraph 4.

6. Parties shall cooperate in the development of technologies and other means necessary to facilitate the elimination of cross-border advertising.

7. Parties which have a ban on certain forms of tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship have the sovereign right to ban those forms of cross-border tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship entering their territory and to impose equal penalties as those applicable to domestic advertising, promotion and sponsorship originating from their territory in accordance with their national law. This paragraph does not endorse or approve of any particular penalty.

8. Parties shall consider the elaboration of a protocol setting out appropriate measures that require international collaboration for a comprehensive ban on cross-border advertising, promotion and sponsorship.

1. Each Party shall develop and disseminate appropriate, comprehensive and integrated guidelines based on scientific evidence and best practices, taking into account national circumstances and priorities, and shall take effective measures to promote cessation of tobacco use and adequate treatment for tobacco dependence.

2. Towards this end, each Party shall endeavour to:

1. The Parties recognize that the elimination of all forms of illicit trade in tobacco products, including smuggling, illicit manufacturing and counterfeiting, and the development and implementation of related national law, in addition to subregional, regional and global agreements, are essential components of tobacco control.

2. Each Party shall adopt and implement effective legislative, executive, administrative or other measures to ensure that all unit packets and packages of tobacco products and any outside packaging of such products are marked to assist Parties in determining the origin of tobacco products, and in accordance with national law and relevant bilateral or multilateral agreements, assist Parties in determining the point of diversion and monitor, document and control the movement of tobacco products and their legal status. In addition, each Party shall:

3. Each Party shall require that the packaging information or marking specified in paragraph 2 of this Article shall be presented in legible form and/or appear in its principal language or languages.

4. With a view to eliminating illicit trade in tobacco products, each Party shall:

5. Information collected pursuant to subparagraphs 4(a) and 4(d) of this Article shall, as appropriate, be provided in aggregate form by the Parties in their periodic reports to the Conference of the Parties, in accordance with Article 21.

6. The Parties shall, as appropriate and in accordance with national law, promote cooperation between national agencies, as well as relevant regional and international intergovernmental organizations as it relates to investigations, prosecutions and proceedings, with a view to eliminating illicit trade in tobacco products. Special emphasis shall be placed on cooperation at regional and subregional levels to combat illicit trade of tobacco products.

7. Each Party shall endeavour to adopt and implement further measures including licensing, where appropriate, to control or regulate the production and distribution of tobacco products in order to prevent illicit trade.

1. Each Party shall adopt and implement effective legislative, executive, administrative or other measures at the appropriate government level to prohibit the sales of tobacco products to persons under the age set by domestic law, national law or eighteen. These measures may include:

2. Each Party shall prohibit or promote the prohibition of the distribution of free tobacco products to the public and especially minors.

3. Each Party shall endeavour to prohibit the sale of cigarettes individually or in small packets which increase the affordability of such products to minors.

4. The Parties recognize that in order to increase their effectiveness, measures to prevent tobacco product sales to minors should, where appropriate, be implemented in conjunction with other provisions contained in this Convention.

5. When signing, ratifying, accepting, approving or acceding to the Convention or at any time thereafter, a Party may, by means of a binding written declaration, indicate its commitment to prohibit the introduction of tobacco vending machines within its jurisdiction or, as appropriate, to a total ban on tobacco vending machines. The declaration made pursuant to this Article shall be circulated by the Depositary to all Parties to the Convention.

6. Each Party shall adopt and implement effective legislative, executive, administrative or other measures, including penalties against sellers and distributors, in order to ensure compliance with the obligations contained in paragraphs 1-5 of this Article.

7. Each Party should, as appropriate, adopt and implement effective legislative, executive, administrative or other measures to prohibit the sales of tobacco products by persons under the age set by domestic law, national law or eighteen.

Parties shall, in cooperation with each other and with competent international and regional intergovernmental organizations, promote, as appropriate, economically viable alternatives for tobacco workers, growers and, as the case may be, individual sellers.

In carrying out their obligations under this Convention, the Parties agree to have due regard to the protection of the environment and the health of persons in relation to the environment in respect of tobacco cultivation and manufacture within their respective territories.

1. For the purpose of tobacco control, the Parties shall consider taking legislative action or promoting their existing laws, where necessary, to deal with criminal and civil liability, including compensation where appropriate.

2. Parties shall cooperate with each other in exchanging information through the Conference of the Parties in accordance with Article 21 including:

3. The Parties shall, as appropriate and mutually agreed, within the limits of national legislation, policies, legal practices and applicable existing treaty arrangements, afford one another assistance in legal proceedings relating to civil and criminal liability consistent with this Convention.

4. The Convention shall in no way affect or limit any rights of access of the Parties to each other’s courts where such rights exist.

5. The Conference of the Parties may consider, if possible, at an early stage, taking account of the work being done in relevant international fora, issues related to liability including appropriate international approaches to these issues and appropriate means to support, upon request, the Parties in their legislative and other activities in accordance with this Article.

1. The Parties undertake to develop and promote national research and to coordinate research programmes at the regional and international levels in the field of tobacco control. Towards this end, each Party shall:

2. The Parties shall establish, as appropriate, programmes for national, regional and global surveillance of the magnitude, patterns, determinants and consequences of tobacco consumption and exposure to tobacco smoke. Towards this end, the Parties should integrate tobacco surveillance programmes into national, regional and global health surveillance programmes so that data are comparable and can be analysed at the regional and international levels, as appropriate.

3. Parties recognize the importance of financial and technical assistance from international and regional intergovernmental organizations and other bodies. Each Party shall endeavour to:

4. The Parties shall, subject to national law, promote and facilitate the exchange of publicly available scientific, technical, socioeconomic, commercial and legal information, as well as information regarding practices of the tobacco industry and the cultivation of tobacco, which is relevant to this Convention, and in so doing shall take into account and address the special needs of developing country Parties and Parties with economies in transition. Each Party shall endeavour to:

5. Parties should cooperate in regional and international intergovernmental organizations and financial and development institutions of which they are members, to promote and encourage provision of technical and financial resources to the Secretariat to assist developing country Parties and Parties with economies in transition to meet their commitments on research, surveillance and exchange of information.

1. Each Party shall submit to the Conference of the Parties, through the Secretariat, periodic reports on its implementation of this Convention, which should include the following:

2. The frequency and format of such reports by all Parties shall be determined by the Conference of the Parties. Each Party shall make its initial report within two years of the entry into force of the Convention for that Party.

3. The Conference of the Parties, pursuant to Articles 22 and 26, shall consider arrangements to assist developing country Parties and Parties with economies in transition, at their request, in meeting their obligations under this Article.

4. The reporting and exchange of information under the Convention shall be subject to national law regarding confidentiality and privacy. The Parties shall protect, as mutually agreed, any confidential information that is exchanged.

1. The Parties shall cooperate directly or through competent international bodies to strengthen their capacity to fulfill the obligations arising from this Convention, taking into account the needs of developing country Parties and Parties with economies in transition. Such cooperation shall promote the transfer of technical, scientific and legal expertise and technology, as mutually agreed, to establish and strengthen national tobacco control strategies, plans and programmes aiming at, inter alia:

2. The Conference of the Parties shall promote and facilitate transfer of technical, scientific and legal expertise and technology with the financial support secured in accordance with Article 26.

1. A Conference of the Parties is hereby established. The first session of the Conference shall be convened by the World Health Organization not later than one year after the entry into force of this Convention. The Conference will determine the venue and timing of subsequent regular sessions at its first session.

2. Extraordinary sessions of the Conference of the Parties shall be held at such other times as may be deemed necessary by the Conference, or at the written request of any Party, provided that, within six months of the request being communicated to them by the Secretariat of the Convention, it is supported by at least one-third of the Parties.

3. The Conference of the Parties shall adopt by consensus its Rules of Procedure at its first session.

4. The Conference of the Parties shall by consensus adopt financial rules for itself as well as governing the funding of any subsidiary bodies it may establish as well as financial provisions governing the functioning of the Secretariat. At each ordinary session, it shall adopt a budget for the financial period until the next ordinary session.

5. The Conference of the Parties shall keep under regular review the implementation of the Convention and take the decisions necessary to promote its effective implementation and may adopt protocols, annexes and amendments to the Convention, in accordance with Articles 28, 29 and 33. Towards this end, it shall:

6. The Conference of the Parties shall establish the criteria for the participation of observers at its proceedings.

1. The Conference of the Parties shall designate a permanent secretariat and make arrangements for its functioning. The Conference of the Parties shall endeavour to do so at its first session.

2. Until such time as a permanent secretariat is designated and established, secretariat functions under this Convention shall be provided by the World Health Organization.

3. Secretariat functions shall be:

In order to provide technical and financial cooperation for achieving the objective of this Convention, the Conference of the Parties may request the cooperation of competent international and regional intergovernmental organizations including financial and development institutions.

1. The Parties recognize the important role that financial resources play in achieving the objective of this Convention.

2. Each Party shall provide financial support in respect of its national activities intended to achieve the objective of the Convention, in accordance with its national plans, priorities and programmes.

3. Parties shall promote, as appropriate, the utilization of bilateral, regional, subregional and other multilateral channels to provide funding for the development and strengthening of multisectoral comprehensive tobacco control programmes of developing country Parties and Parties with economies in transition. Accordingly, economically viable alternatives to tobacco production, including crop diversification should be addressed and supported in the context of nationally developed strategies of sustainable development.

4. Parties represented in relevant regional and international intergovernmental organizations, and financial and development institutions shall encourage these entities to provide financial assistance for developing country Parties and for Parties with economies in transition to assist them in meeting their obligations under the Convention, without limiting the rights of participation within these organizations.

5. The Parties agree that:

1. In the event of a dispute between two or more Parties concerning the interpretation or application of this Convention, the Parties concerned shall seek through diplomatic channels a settlement of the dispute through negotiation or any other peaceful means of their own choice, including good offices, mediation, or conciliation. Failure to reach agreement by good offices, mediation or conciliation shall not absolve parties to the dispute from the responsibility of continuing to seek to resolve it.

2. When ratifying, accepting, approving, formally confirming or acceding to the Convention, or at any time thereafter, a State or regional economic integration organization may declare in writing to the Depositary that, for a dispute not resolved in accordance with paragraph 1 of this Article, it accepts, as compulsory, ad hoc arbitration in accordance with procedures to be adopted by consensus by the Conference of the Parties.

3. The provisions of this Article shall apply with respect to any protocol as between the parties to the protocol, unless otherwise provided therein.

1. Any Party may propose amendments to this Convention. Such amendments will be considered by the Conference of the Parties.

2. Amendments to the Convention shall be adopted by the Conference of the Parties. The text of any proposed amendment to the Convention shall be communicated to the Parties by the Secretariat at least six months before the session at which it is proposed for adoption. The Secretariat shall also communicate proposed amendments to the signatories of the Convention and, for information, to the Depositary.

3. The Parties shall make every effort to reach agreement by consensus on any proposed amendment to the Convention. If all efforts at consensus have been exhausted, and no agreement reached, the amendment shall as a last resort be adopted by a three-quarters majority vote of the Parties present and voting at the session. For purposes of this Article, Parties present and voting means Parties present and casting an affirmative or negative vote. Any adopted amendment shall be communicated by the Secretariat to the Depositary, who shall circulate it to all Parties for acceptance.

4. Instruments of acceptance in respect of an amendment shall be deposited with the Depositary. An amendment adopted in accordance with paragraph 3 of this Article shall enter into force for those Parties having accepted it on the ninetieth day after the date of receipt by the Depositary of an instrument of acceptance by at least two-thirds of the Parties to the Convention.

5. The amendment shall enter into force for any other Party on the ninetieth day after the date on which that Party deposits with the Depositary its instrument of acceptance of the said amendment.

1. Annexes to this Convention and amendments thereto shall be proposed, adopted and shall enter into force in accordance with the procedure set forth in Article 28.

2. Annexes to the Convention shall form an integral part thereof and, unless otherwise expressly provided, a reference to the Convention constitutes at the same time a reference to any annexes thereto.

3. Annexes shall be restricted to lists, forms and any other descriptive material relating to procedural, scientific, technical or administrative matters.

No reservations may be made to this Convention.

1. At any time after two years from the date on which this Convention has entered into force for a Party, that Party may withdraw from the Convention by giving written notification to the Depositary.

2. Any such withdrawal shall take effect upon expiry of one year from the date of receipt by the Depositary of the notification of withdrawal, or on such later date as may be specified in the notification of withdrawal.

3. Any Party that withdraws from the Convention shall be considered as also having withdrawn from any protocol to which it is a Party.

1. Each Party to this Convention shall have one vote, except as provided for in paragraph 2 of this Article.

2. Regional economic integration organizations, in matters within their competence, shall exercise their right to vote with a number of votes equal to the number of their Member States that are Parties to the Convention. Such an organization shall not exercise its right to vote if any of its Member States exercises its right, and vice versa.

1. Any Party may propose protocols. Such proposals will be considered by the Conference of the Parties.

2. The Conference of the Parties may adopt protocols to this Convention. In adopting these protocols every effort shall be made to reach consensus. If all efforts at consensus have been exhausted, and no agreement reached, the protocol shall as a last resort be adopted by a three-quarters majority vote of the Parties present and voting at the session. For the purposes of this Article, Parties present and voting means Parties present and casting an affirmative or negative vote.

3. The text of any proposed protocol shall be communicated to the Parties by the Secretariat at least six months before the session at which it is proposed for adoption.

4. Only Parties to the Convention may be parties to a protocol.

5. Any protocol to the Convention shall be binding only on the parties to the protocol in question. Only Parties to a protocol may take decisions on matters exclusively relating to the protocol in question.

6. The requirements for entry into force of any protocol shall be established by that instrument.

This Convention shall be open for signature by all Members of the World Health Organization and by any States that are not Members of the World Health Organization but are members of the United Nations and by regional economic integration organizations at the World Health Organization Headquarters in Geneva from 16 June 2003 to 22 June 2003, and thereafter at United Nations Headquarters in New York, from 30 June 2003 to 29 June 2004.

1. This Convention shall be subject to ratification, acceptance, approval or accession by States and to formal confirmation or accession by regional economic integration organizations. It shall be open for accession from the day after the date on which the Convention is closed for signature. Instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval, formal confirmation or accession shall be deposited with the Depositary.

2. Any regional economic integration organization which becomes a Party to the Convention without any of its Member States being a Party shall be bound by all the obligations under the Convention. In the case of those organizations, one or more of whose Member States is a Party to the Convention, the organization and its Member States shall decide on their respective responsibilities for the performance of their obligations under the Convention. In such cases, the organization and the Member States shall not be entitled to exercise rights under the Convention concurrently.

3. Regional economic integration organizations shall, in their instruments relating to formal confirmation or in their instruments of accession, declare the extent of their competence with respect to the matters governed by the Convention. These organizations shall also inform the Depositary, who shall in turn inform the Parties, of any substantial modification in the extent of their competence.

1. This Convention shall enter into force on the ninetieth day following the date of deposit of the fortieth instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval, formal confirmation or accession with the Depositary.

2. For each State that ratifies, accepts or approves the Convention or accedes thereto after the conditions set out in paragraph 1 of this Article for entry into force have been fulfilled, the Convention shall enter into force on the ninetieth day following the date of deposit of its instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession.

3. For each regional economic integration organization depositing an instrument of formal confirmation or an instrument of accession after the conditions set out in paragraph 1 of this Article for entry into force have been fulfilled, the Convention shall enter into force on the ninetieth day following the date of its depositing of the instrument of formal confirmation or of accession.

4. For the purposes of this Article, any instrument deposited by a regional economic integration organization shall not be counted as additional to those deposited by States Members of the organization.

The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall be the Depositary of this Convention and amendments thereto and of protocols and annexes adopted in accordance with Articles 28, 29 and 33.

The original of this Convention, of which the Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish texts are equally authentic, shall be deposited with the Secretary-General of the United Nations.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned, being duly authorized to that effect, have signed this Convention.

DONE at GENEVA this twenty-first day of May two thousand and three.

31.08.2004. 09:22

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I.Avotiņa

7021649, inita_avotina@vm.gov.lv