WHO FCTC

03/09/2026

World No To***co Day 2027 Awards.

This year’s theme is especially important:

🧠 Mental well-being – protecting young minds from to***co and ni****ne.

The awards recognize individuals, organizations, government departments and other groups that have made an outstanding contribution to advancing to***co control and protecting people—especially young people—from the harms of to***co and ni****ne.

👏 If you know a person or organization whose leadership, innovation, advocacy or commitment has made a real difference, this is an opportunity to shine a light on their work and celebrate their impact.

📅 Nomination deadline: 20 November 2026, 17:00 GMT

🔗 Learn more and submit a nomination:

https://www.who.int/news-room/articles-detail/call-for-nominations--world-no-to***co-day-2027-awards

***coDay

The World Health Organization (WHO) is calling for nominations to the World No To***co Day Awards of individuals or organizations in each of the six WHO Regions for their accomplishments in the area of to***co control.

02/09/2026

🌍 Africa’s to***co story is changing — and the new data demand attention.

📊 The new WHO report, Status of to***co production and trade in Africa, 2nd ed., highlights a troubling trend: while global to***co-leaf production declined by nearly 19% between 2012 and 2024, production in Africa increased by 8.6%.

🌱 Africa produced more than 639,000 tonnes of to***co leaf in 2024, accounting for around 11% of global production. At the same time, the continent’s cigarette import bill more than doubled, rising from US$833 million to US$1.77 billion.

🚨 This is about more than to***co control. It is a health, trade, development and environmental issue.

👩🏾‍🌾 To***co cultivation can expose farmers and workers to ni****ne, pesticides and other health risks, while contributing to soil degradation, deforestation, water use and environmental damage.

🍽️ To***co production also competes for land, water and resources that could support food production and more sustainable livelihoods.

🤝 This is where Articles 17 and 18 of the WHO FCTC matter.

🌾 Article 17 calls on Parties to promote economically viable alternatives for to***co workers and growers, while Article 18 calls for attention to the protection of health and the environment in relation to to***co cultivation and production:

https://fctc.who.int/resources/publications/m/item/policy-options-and-recommendations-on-economically-sustainable-alternatives-to-to***co-growing

💡 The goal is not to leave to***co farmers behind. It is to support a transition towards sustainable, viable livelihoods that protect farmers, communities, food security and the environment.

🔄 As to***co production continues to grow in parts of Africa, implementing Articles 17 and 18 becomes increasingly important.

🌱 The question is not simply how much to***co Africa produces — but what kind of agricultural and economic future we want to build.

📖 Read the WHO report: Status of to***co production and trade in Africa

https://who.int/publications/i/item/9789240125162

🌍 🚭 🌱 🌾 🌳

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)

01/09/2026

🚨 Flavoured to***co is a trap.

🍓🍬🌿 Sweet, fruity, minty and other flavours can make to***co products more appealing and mask the harshness of to***co smoke — helping attract and sustain to***co use.

📜 Under the WHO FCTC Articles 9 & 10 Partial Guidelines, Parties are encouraged to prohibit or restrict ingredients that increase the palatability and attractiveness of to***co products, including flavourings, sugars, sweeteners, herbs and spices.

🌍 And countries are taking action: over 40 countries now ban flavoured to***co products.

🚭 Flavours don’t make to***co safer — they can make it more attractive.

👉 Regulate flavours. Reduce attractiveness. Protect public health.

Read more -> https://fctc.who.int/resources/publications/m/item/regulation-of-the-contents-of-to***co-products-and-regulation-of-to***co-product-disclosures

31/08/2026

🚭 Pictorial health warnings work.

Images speak louder than words — especially when it comes to showing the real dangers of to***co use. 🫁⚠️
Large, clear pictorial health warnings on to***co packaging can:
🔴 Remind people of the serious health risks every time they reach for a to***co product
🔴 Inform consumers about the harms caused by to***co use
🔴 Increase awareness of to***co-related diseases
🔴 Motivate people who smoke to consider quitting 💪

This is also reflected in Article 11 of the WHO Framework Convention on To***co Control, which calls on Parties to adopt effective health warnings on to***co packaging. The guidelines for Article 11 emphasize that warnings should be large, clear, visible, legible and, where appropriate, include pictures or other graphic elements.

🌍 Many countries have now introduced prominent pictorial health warnings covering a significant portion of to***co packs.

Because every pack is an opportunity to communicate one simple message:

To***co is dangerous. 🚭 Your health matters. ❤️

Learn more -> https://fctc.who.int/resources/publications/m/item/packaging-and-labelling-of-to***co-products

27/08/2026

Many countries are enacting laws establishing smoke-free environments in enclosed workplaces and public spaces.

🌍 Article 8 of the WHO Framework Convention on To***co Control recognizes the importance of protecting people from exposure to to***co smoke.

🚫 There is no safe level of exposure to second-hand to***co smoke. Everyone has the right to breathe clean, smoke-free air — at work, in public places, on public transport, and in other shared spaces. 🫁❤️

🏢 Smoke-free policies help protect workers, children, families, and communities from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke.

🔗 https://fctc.who.int/resources/publications/m/item/protection-from-exposure-to-to***co-smoke

26/08/2026

💰 High prices for to***co products help keep them out of reach of young people.

📈 Increasing taxes on to***co products makes them less affordable for vulnerable populations.

🌍 Article 6 of the WHO FCTC recognizes that price and tax measures are an important tool for reducing to***co consumption. It calls on countries to adopt tax and price policies on to***co products as a means of contributing to public health objectives, particularly by reducing to***co use among young people



https://fctc.who.int/resources/publications/m/item/price-and-tax-measures-to-reduce-the-demand-for-to***co

24/08/2026

🚭 Illicit trade in to***co products undermines public health, fuels criminal activity and deprives governments of vital revenue.

🌍 The Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in To***co Products provides countries with a framework to strengthen cooperation and tackle this global challenge.

🔗 Illicit trade in to***co, death, violence and poverty — it’s all connected.

🤝 Let’s work together.

⛓️‍💥 To break the chain.

🌍 And support the Protocol.

Learn more -> https://fctc.who.int/protocol

12/08/2026

On 🌍👥, we must be clear: young people are not the to***co industry’s next market. 🚭 Our future is not their market. 🔮

The voices of young people are essential 🗣️✨ to building a healthier, more sustainable world 🌱🌎—one free from the harms of to***co and ni****ne products.

At COP11, we had the privilege of meeting many of the Global Youth Voices 🌍🧑‍🤝‍🧑, and we remain committed to listening to their ideas, experiences and determination. 💬💪 Young people are helping us understand how our world is changing, and they will shape the future of public health. ❤️‍🩹🌎

To***co and ni****ne companies continue to redesign products, flavours and marketing 📱🎯 to attract a new generation. We therefore call on Parties to the WHO FCTC to fully implement Article 13, including by addressing advertising, promotion and sponsorship across digital media, influencers, entertainment and sport 📲🎬🏅, in line with the newly adopted guidance on entertainment media.

We also call on Parties to uphold Article 5.3 🛡️ and protect public health policymaking from to***co industry interference.

Different contexts. Common aspirations. 🌍🤝 Our future is not their market. 🚭



📄 Read the 2026 open letter, “Protect Young People, Make the To***co Industry Pay,” from the Global Youth Voices:
https://gyv-cms.ggtc.world/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/GYV-IYD-2026-Open-Letter.pdf

10/08/2026

𝗪𝗛𝗢 𝗙𝗖𝗧𝗖 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗮𝘁 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁

The Secretariat of the WHO Framework Convention on To***co Control is pleased to announce the appointment of 𝗔𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗲𝘄 𝗕𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗸 as its new Head.

Andrew brings extensive experience in to***co control and has been a member of the Convention Secretariat since 2016. During this time, he has led implementation assistance to Parties, including the 𝗙𝗖𝗧𝗖 𝟮𝟬𝟯𝟬 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁, which has provided intensive support for implementation of the WHO FCTC and the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in To***co Products in more than 30 low- and middle-income countries.

He has also championed efforts to strengthen governance for to***co control, promote the WHO FCTC as an accelerator for sustainable development, and deepen understanding of the economic costs of to***co.

The Convention Secretariat looks forward to Andrew's leadership as it continues working with Parties and partners to support full implementation of the WHO FCTC and the Protocol, with the shared goal of 𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗼 𝗲𝗽𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗰, 𝘀𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀.

The Secretariat also expresses its sincere appreciation to 𝗗𝗿 𝗔𝗱𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗮 𝗕𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗼 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗾𝘂𝗶𝘇𝗼 for her outstanding leadership and dedication, and thanks her for the strong foundations she has established for the future.

https://fctc.who.int/newsroom/news/item/10-08-2026-new-head-of-the-convention-secretariat-commits-to-bolstering-efforts-to-end-the-global-to***co-epidemic

07/08/2026

Cigarette butts cause wildfires 🚬🚬🚬🔥🔥🔥👩🏻‍🚒💔

Let’s end the to***co epidemic for the good of the planet. 🌍 🌎 🌏 🌳

🌏