OREANDA-NEWS. September 08, 2011. Passed five years from the date of coming into force for Ukraine the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control - the first-ever international agreement in the field of public health which text has been unanimously approved on May 21, 2003 at worldwide assembly of healthcare. WHO FCTC has been already ratified by 174 countries of the world, including our country.

Owing to implementation in Ukraine such positions of WHO FCTC as increase of taxes and the prices for tobacco products, gradual deliverance public and workplaces from a tobacco smoke, informing of consumers on consequences of smoking through greater preventions on packs, etc., Ukraine managed to reduce prevalence of smoking that confirm as data of Public service of statistics: http://www.moz.gov.ua/ua/portal/pre_20110328_2.html, and the Third Report the WHO about global tobacco epidemic: http://www.moz.gov.ua/ua/portal/pre_20110708_2.html.

Now the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine prepare to consideration in the second reading the bill 5164 "On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of Ukraine (concerning a total ban of advertising, sponsorship and promotion of tobacco products)". The text of the bill accepted in the first reading, it completely meets requirements the Frame Convention. Acceptance of the given bill will lead to the further reduction of prevalence of tobacco smoking, and consequently to reduction of quantity of the illnesses and death caused by tobacco.