Representatives of governments and the international community are set to sign a landmark agreement in Seoul this week aiming to protect public health.

The Seoul Protocol, to be adopted during the meeting of the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, will pave the way for the global community to fight against illegal trade of tobacco around the world.

Smuggling, illicit manufacturing and counterfeiting are blamed for the rise in smoking consumption particularly among young people and generating a huge fiscal loss to governments.

Illicit trade accounts for about 11.6 percent of the global cigarette market, equivalent to 657 billion cigarettes a year and a $40.5 billion loss in state revenues, according to a WHO report.

“For us, the main objective is to curb smoking but it is also good for the governments because they will also get benefits in fiscal terms. That is why there is good acceptance by the governments because it is a win-win strategy,” said Haik Nikogosian, head of the Convention Secretariat of WHO FCTC. The WHO FCTC is the first global treaty negotiated under the auspices of the World Health Organization and provides a new legal dimension for international health cooperation.

Calling it “a historic event,” the protocol on eliminating illicit tobacco trade will be the first protocol to the WHO FCTC and an international treaty in itself, he added. He is currently in Seoul to host the fifth session of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the WHO at COEX in Seoul from Nov. 12 to 17. The COP is the central organ and governing body of the Convention and has 176 parties to date.

Other guidelines will be discussed during the week-long conference including price and tax measures to decrease the demand for tobacco, policy recommendations on alternatives to tobacco growing, and smokeless tobacco and e-cigarettes.

The anticipated Seoul Protocol includes strong measures such as a “track and trace system” that allows member countries to track suspicious tobacco production and distribution chains.

“It will require a special code in each package, very unique numbers which would not repeat around the world. It is a new global system because all signatories will comply with the system. This will be implemented probably seven years after the protocol enters into force. We need more than 40 countries to ratify the treaty.”

Asked about Korea keeping the price of cigarettes substantially lower than other advanced countries, Nikogosian said the price should go up because higher prices are the most efficient tool to control tobacco consumption.

“Korea, yes, I think the price could be higher. It is $2 per package in a country of this level of income and it is relatively cheaper,” he said, adding that Korean Health Ministy is “confident that it is the right thing to do.”

Governments gradually increasing taxes on tobacco, he emphasized, is a win-win strategy to curb consumption and raise tax revenue. “There is no loser in this case. We can say that there is significant room for the increase of price in Korea.”

The Korean government has been expanding smoking-ban policies in recent years amid mounting calls for improving public health and a clean environment.

In its latest move, Seoul plans to ban smoking in indoor spaces larger than 150 square meters, starting in December. The WHO FCTC head said the Korean government shouldn’t be afraid of taking bolder measures because non-smoking policies will be welcomed by the public, as seen in other countries.

“From the experience of many other countries, banning indoor smoking is welcomed by the country. It is not really difficult to implement, brings very good result in terms of public health and doesn’t harm business. It is a problem of culture and social perception.”

Nikogosian said the world needs to discuss eliminating tobacco products in the long run, rather than just imposing heavier taxes and other regulation.

“Tobacco is not a pollutant but a killer. The price of having tobacco in society is much higher. We need to speak about banning and eliminating the (tobacco) products. There is no other way because it is devastating for public health,” he said.

“It came some hundred years ago, but it will disappear gradually. I am sure in two or three generations, people would have an absolutely different outlook.”

Born in 1955 in Armenia, Nikogosian served as minister of health and as chairman of the National Institute of Health of Armenia in 1990s. He held various managerial positions with the WHO including head of non-communicable diseases and lifestyles. He is also holds an MD, Ph.D. and professorship in medical sciences.

By Cho Chung-un (christory@heraldcorp.com)