The MOP3 session to combat illicit Tobacco trade concludes with Panama Declaration

Third session of the Meeting of the Parties (MOP3) held in Panama City to combat illicit tobacco trade concludes with Panama Declaration that calls on national governments to be wary of the ceaseless campaign by the tobacco industry and those working to further its interests to undermine efforts to eliminate illicit trade in tobacco products.

The Third session of the Meeting of the Parties (MOP3) to the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products has concluded after taking decisive action to combat illicit trade in tobacco products that harms health and robs national governments of tax revenues that could support public health initiatives. The MOP3 session was held in Panama City from 12 February 2024 to 15 February 2024.

The Meeting of the Parties (MOP) is the governing body of the Protocol, which is an international treaty that entered into force in 2018 aims to eliminate illicit trade in tobacco products through a package of measures to be taken by countries acting in cooperation with one another. The Protocol is overseen by Secretariat of WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).

Illicit trade in tobacco products accounts for about 11% of total global tobacco trade, and its elimination could increase global tax revenues by an estimated US$ 47.4 billion annually.

Representatives from 56 Parties to the Protocol and 27 non-Party States gathered at Panama from 12 to 15 February 2024 to tackle a range of issues from progress on implementation of the treaty to sustainable financing for tobacco control.

Panama Declaration

The Third session of the Meeting of the Parties (MOP3) adopted the Panama Declaration that calls on national governments to be wary of the ceaseless campaign by the tobacco industry and those working to further its interests to undermine efforts to eliminate illicit trade in tobacco products.

The Panama Declaration also emphasized the need for effective action to prevent and combat illicit trade in tobacco products, which requires a comprehensive international approach to – and close cooperation on – all aspects of illicit trade in tobacco, tobacco products and tobacco manufacturing equipment.

***

Source:

WHO FCTC. News – Global meeting to combat illicit tobacco trade concludes with decisive action. Posted 15 February 2024. Available at https://fctc.who.int/newsroom/news/item/15-02-2024-global-meeting-to-combat-illicit-tobacco-trade-concludes-with-decisive-action

***