MOP3 Concludes: Global Cooperation Strengthens Efforts to Combat Illegal Tobacco Trade

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Feb.19.2024
MOP3 Concludes: Global Cooperation Strengthens Efforts to Combat Illegal Tobacco Trade
MOP3 has officially concluded, in support of public health initiatives to combat illegal trade in tobacco products that harm health and deprive national governments of tax revenue.

According to the official website of the World Health Organization on February 15th, the Third Conference of the Parties to the Protocol on the Elimination of Illegal Trade in Tobacco Products (MOP3) has officially concluded. The conference supports the fight against illegal trade in tobacco products that harm health and deprive national governments of tax revenue to support public health initiatives.


Dr. Adriana Blanco Marquizo, head of the Secretariat of the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, said, "This week's meeting made important decisions on tobacco tracking and tracking systems, and approved a roadmap for evidence-based research on illegal trade."


Dr. Blanco said, "We have also reached an agreement on improving the reporting system used by the contracting parties, which will enhance the quality of data related to the implementation of the protocol and help guide future tobacco control efforts."


The Conference of the Parties to the Protocol is the governing body of the Protocol, which is an international treaty that came into effect in 2018, aimed at taking a series of measures through cooperation between countries to eliminate the illegal trade in tobacco products.


Dr. Blanco said, "This is a global solution to a global problem."


Illegal trade accounts for approximately 11% of global tobacco trade, and eliminating illegal tobacco trade could increase global tax revenue by approximately $47.4 billion annually.


The Third Conference of the Parties to the Protocol on the Elimination of Illegal Trade in Tobacco Products also adopted the Panama Declaration, calling on governments to be vigilant of the ongoing movements of the tobacco industry and its assistants to undermine efforts to eliminate illegal trade in tobacco products.


The Panama Declaration also emphasizes the need for effective action to prevent and combat illegal trade in tobacco products, which requires comprehensive international action and close cooperation in all aspects of illegal trade in tobacco, tobacco products, and tobacco production equipment.

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