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31984D0636

84/636/EEC: Council Decision of 13 December 1984 establishing a third joint programme to encourage the exchange of young workers within the Community

Official Journal L 331 , 19/12/1984 P. 0036 - 0038 Spanish special edition: Chapter 05 Volume 4 P. 0126  Portuguese special edition Chapter 05 Volume 4 P. 0126

*****COUNCIL  DECISION  of 13 December 1984  establishing a third joint programme to encourage the exchange of young workers within the Community  (84/636/EEC)  THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN  COMMUNITIES,  Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in particular Article 235 thereof,  Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,  Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (1),  Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (2),  Whereas the Community is called upon to take concrete measures to help young workers;  Whereas it is the responsibility of the Member States, under Article 50 of the Treaty, to encourage, within the framework of a joint programme, the exchange of young workers;  Whereas young workers should be offered greater opportunities to broaden their vocational training and their cultural, linguistic and human knowledge in a Member State other than that in which they reside;  Whereas the exchange of young workers should be developed alongside measures taken to promote youth employment, while at the same time retaining its individual character by its objectives and the nature of the operations involved;  Whereas the experience gained in the implementation of the second joint programme to encourage the exchange of young workers within the Community (3) proved positive and consequently the underlying principles should be reaffirmed in the context of a third programme;  Whereas, in view of the present employment situation, the exchange programme should be extended to young job-seekers;  Whereas, in addition to training periods of long duration of a predominantly vocational nature, provision should continue to be made and extended for study training periods of short duration which offer young workers the opportunity of establishing close contact with the working and living environment of the host country;  Whereas the Community institutions must make a substantial contribution to the implementation of the third joint programme;  Whereas the participation of bodies or groups operating at European level which, by virtue of their structure, type of activities and operational capacities, are able to make an effective contribution to implementing the programme should be ensured;  Whereas the establishment of a third joint programme to encourage the exchange of young workers within the Community appears necessary to attain one of the objectives of the Community;  Whereas the Treaty has not provided specific powers for the adoption of this Decision,  HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:  Article 1  1. For the purposes of this Decision, 'exchanges of young workers' means operations involving the organization of training periods for young workers, on the conditions laid down in Article 2 in a Member State other than the Member State in which they reside, aimed at:  - developing their vocational knowledge and enriching their practical experience,  - promoting their awareness of the problems of the working world,  - bringing them into contact with the working environment of the host country,  - improving their knowledge of living conditions and social relations in the host country, and  - promoting adequate information on the Community's objectives and how it functions.  2. The training periods referred to in paragraph 1 may be of long or short duration.  Article 2  1. Young workers who are nationals of a Member State shall be eligible for exchanges if they:  - are between 18 and 28 years of age and are employed or are available on the labour market in accordance with national legislation and practice,  - have received basic vocational training or have practical working experience.  2. Following the consultations provided for in Article 9, the Commission may, by way of exception, make eligible for exchanges young workers who do not fulfil the conditions set out in paragraph 1 but for whom exchanges are of particular interest.  Article 3  1. Without prejudice to the powers of the employment services of the Member States, the implementation of exchanges shall be entrusted to bodies or groups capable of operating at European level, including youth organizations, which have been approved, after obtaining the opinion of the Member States, by the Commission on the basis of their ability to carry out exchanges effectively.  2. The individual contracts relating to exchange projects which the Commission concludes with the above bodies or groups shall define the conditions for implementing the exchanges, the obligations of the body or group involved and the financial responsibilities.  3. The Commission shall ask the Member States concerned for their opinions before approving exchange projects.  Article 4  'Training periods of long duration' means training periods of a predominantly vocational nature lasting between four and 16 months with an employer in the host country. These training periods shall be designed in particular to enable participants to develop their vocational knowledge by familiarizing themselves with life in an undertaking.  Article 5  'Training periods of short duration' means study training periods designed in particular to enable participants to establish close contact with the working and living environment of the host country. These training periods shall, in principle, last for between three weeks and three months.  Article 6  Young workers participating in training periods provided for by this Decision shall benefit, within the framework of existing legislation, from the system introduced under Articles 48, 49 and 51 of the Treaty to bring about freedom of movement for workers who are nationals of Member States.  For young people to whom Articles 48, 49 and 51 of the Treaty do not apply, the Community shall ensure that promoting bodies or groups draw up appropriate insurance policies.  Article 7  1. Within the framework of existing legislation and practice, Member States shall lend their support to the implementation of exchanges.  2. Member States shall designate the competent authority or authorities and, where appropriate, the coordination service which the bodies or groups referred to in Article 3 should contact to examine exchange projects and to obtain help in organizing and implementing the training periods.  Article 8  To facilitate the development of exchanges, the Commission may, within the limits of the appropriations entered in the budget of the Communities, grant aid comprising:  - a contribution, not exceeding 75 % of the expense incurred, towards the cost of the (outward and return) journey between the place of residence and the place of training, the amount of which may vary depending on the distance,  - a flat-rate weekly contribution per trainee or, exceptionally, in order to promote exchanges, a subsidy for each exchange project.  Supplementary aid per trainee and per week of language training may be granted.  Article 9  The Commission shall consult, in the cases for which provision is made in this Decision and on all matters of importance concerning its application, representatives of the Governments of the Member States and of employers' and workers' organizations and those of European organizations which have specific responsibilities for and direct experience of exchanges, as well as those of the Youth Forum of the European Communities.  Article 10  The Commission shall adopt the measures necessary to implement this Decision. Article 11  The Commission shall submit to the Council, every two years, a report on the progress of the exchanges, including an overall assessment of their implementation.  Article 12  The Council, acting on a proposal from the Commission, shall review this Decision not later than 31 December 1990.  Article 13  This Decision shall apply from 1 January 1985.  Done at Brussels, 13 December 1984.  For the Council  The President  R. QUINN  (1) OJ No C 337, 17. 12. 1984.  (2) Opinion delivered on 21 November 1984 (not yet published in the Official Journal).  (3) OJ No L 185, 21. 7. 1979, p. 24.


title: 2004/513/EC:Council Decision of 2 June 2004 concerning the conclusion of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control

text:
               15.6.2004

               EN

               Official Journal of the European Union

               L 213/8

         COUNCIL DECISION
   of 2 June 2004
   concerning the conclusion of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control
   (2004/513/EC)
   THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
   Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Articles 95, 133 and 152, in conjunction with the first sentence of the first subparagraph of Article 300(2) and the first subparagraph of Article 300(3) thereof,
   Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,
   Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (1),
   Whereas:

               (1)

               The Commission has negotiated on behalf of the Community a Framework Convention on Tobacco Control under the auspices of the World Health Organisation (WHO).

               (2)

               This Convention was signed, on behalf of the European Community, on 16 June 2003 subject to its possible conclusion at a later date, in accordance with the Decision by the Council on 2 June 2003.

               (3)

               This Convention should be approved.

               (4)

               Both the Community and its Member States have competence in the areas covered by the Convention. It is therefore desirable for the Community and its Member States simultaneously to become Contracting Parties in order to carry out together the obligations laid down in the Convention and exercise together the rights it confers in cases of shared competence in order to guarantee uniform application of the Convention,

         HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:
   Article 1
   The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control is hereby approved on behalf of the Community.
   The text of the Convention is attached to this Decision as Annex I.
   Article 2
   The President of the Council is hereby authorised to designate the person empowered to deposit on behalf of the European Community the act of approval provided for in Article 35 of the Convention, in order to express the consent of the Community to be bound and to make the declaration contained in Annex II to this Decision, together with the interpretative declaration set out in Annex III to this Decision.

      Done at Luxembourg, 2 June 2004.

            For the Council

            The President

         M. MARTIN

      (1)  Opinion delivered on 21 April 2004 (not yet published in the Official Journal).
   ANNEX I

      WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control
      THE PARTIES TO THIS CONVENTION,
      DETERMINED to give priority to their right to protect public health,
      RECOGNISING that the spread of the tobacco epidemic is a global problem with serious consequences for public health that calls for the widest possible international cooperation and the participation of all countries in an effective, appropriate and comprehensive international response,
      REFLECTING the concern of the international community about the devastating worldwide health, social, economic and environmental consequences of tobacco consumption and exposure to tobacco smoke,
      SERIOUSLY CONCERNED about the increase in the worldwide consumption and production of cigarettes and other tobacco products, particularly in developing countries, as well as about the burden this places on families, on the poor, and on national health systems,
      RECOGNISING that scientific evidence has unequivocally established that tobacco consumption and exposure to tobacco smoke cause death, disease and disability, and that there is a time lag between the exposure to smoking and the other uses of tobacco products and the onset of tobacco-related diseases,
      RECOGNISING also that cigarettes and some other products containing tobacco are highly engineered so as to create and maintain dependence, and that many of the compounds they contain and the smoke they produce are pharmacologically active, toxic, mutagenic and carcinogenic, and that tobacco dependence is separately classified as a disorder in major international classifications of diseases,
      ACKNOWLEDGING that there is clear scientific evidence that prenatal exposure to tobacco smoke causes adverse health and developmental conditions for children,
      DEEPLY CONCERNED about the escalation in smoking and other forms of tobacco consumption by children and adolescents worldwide, particularly smoking at increasingly early ages,
      ALARMED by the increase in smoking and other forms of tobacco consumption by women and young girls worldwide and keeping in mind the need for full participation of women at all levels of policy making and implementation and the need for gender-specific tobacco control strategies,
      DEEPLY CONCERNED about the high levels of smoking and other forms of tobacco consumption by indigenous peoples,
      SERIOUSLY CONCERNED about the impact of all forms of advertising, promotion and sponsorship aimed at encouraging the use of tobacco products,
      RECOGNISING that cooperative action is necessary to eliminate all forms of illicit trade in cigarettes and other tobacco products, including smuggling, illicit manufacturing and counterfeiting,
      ACKNOWLEDGING that tobacco control at all levels and particularly in developing countries and in countries with economies in transition requires sufficient financial and technical resources commensurate with the current and projected need for tobacco control activities,
      RECOGNISING the need to develop appropriate mechanisms to address the long-term social and economic implications of successful tobacco demand reduction strategies,
      MINDFUL of the social and economic difficulties that tobacco control programmes may engender in the medium and long term in some developing countries and countries with economies in transition, and recognising their need for technical and financial assistance in the context of nationally developed strategies for sustainable development,
      CONSCIOUS of the valuable work being conducted by many States on tobacco control and commending the leadership of the World Health Organisation as well as the efforts of other organisations and bodies of the United Nations system and other international and regional intergovernmental organisations in developing measures on tobacco control,
      EMPHASISING the special contribution of nongovernmental organisations and other members of civil society not affiliated with the tobacco industry, including health professional bodies, women's, youth, environmental and consumer groups, and academic and health care institutions, to tobacco control efforts nationally and internationally and the vital importance of their participation in national and international tobacco control efforts,
      RECOGNISING the need to be alert to any efforts by the tobacco industry to undermine or subvert tobacco control efforts and the need to be informed of activities of the tobacco industry that have a negative impact on tobacco control efforts,
      RECALLING Article 12 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 16 December 1966, which states that it is the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health,
      RECALLING also the preamble to the Constitution of the World Health Organisation, which states that the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health is one of the fundamental rights of every human being without distinction of race, religion, political belief, economic or social condition,
      DETERMINED to promote measures of tobacco control based on current and relevant scientific, technical and economic considerations,
      RECALLING that the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 18 December 1979, provides that States Parties to that Convention shall take appropriate measures to eliminate discrimination against women in the field of health care,
      RECALLING further that the Convention on the Rights of the Child, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 20 November 1989, provides that States Parties to that Convention recognise the right of the child to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health,
      HAVE AGREED AS FOLLOWS:
      PART I
      INTRODUCTION
      Article 1
      Use of terms
      For the purposes of this Convention:

                  (a)

                  ‘illicit trade’ means any practice or conduct prohibited by law and which relates to production, shipment, receipt, possession, distribution, sale or purchase including any practice or conduct intended to facilitate such activity;

                  (b)

                  ‘regional economic integration organisation’ means an organisation that is composed of several sovereign states, and to which its Member States have transferred competence over a range of matters, including the authority to make decisions binding on its Member States in respect of those matters (1);

                  (c)

                  ‘tobacco advertising and promotion’ means any form of commercial communication, recommendation or action with the aim, effect or likely effect of promoting a tobacco product or tobacco use either directly or indirectly;

                  (d)

                  ‘tobacco control’ means a range of supply, demand and harm reduction strategies that aim to improve the health of a population by eliminating or reducing their consumption of tobacco products and exposure to tobacco smoke;

                  (e)

                  ‘tobacco industry’ means tobacco manufacturers, wholesale distributors and importers of tobacco products;

                  (f)

                  ‘tobacco products’ means products entirely or partly made of the leaf tobacco as raw material which are manufactured to be used for smoking, sucking, chewing or snuffing;

                  (g)

                  ‘tobacco sponsorship’ means any form of contribution to any event, activity or individual with the aim, effect or likely effect of promoting a tobacco product or tobacco use either directly or indirectly.

            Article 2
      Relationship between this Convention and other agreements and legal instruments
      1.   In order to better protect human health, Parties are encouraged to implement measures beyond those required by this Convention and its protocols, and nothing in these instruments shall prevent a Party from imposing stricter requirements that are consistent with their provisions and are in accordance with international law.
      2.   The provisions of the Convention and its protocols shall in no way affect the right of Parties to enter into bilateral or multilateral agreements, including regional or subregional agreements, on issues relevant or additional to the Convention and its protocols, provided that such agreements are compatible with their obligations under the Convention and its protocols. The Parties concerned shall communicate such agreements to the Conference of the Parties through the Secretariat.
      PART II
      OBJECTIVE, GUIDING PRINCIPLES AND GENERAL OBLIGATIONS
      Article 3
      Objective
      The objective of this Convention and its protocols is to protect present and future generations from the devastating health, social, environmental and economic consequences of tobacco consumption and exposure to tobacco smoke by providing a framework for tobacco control measures to be implemented by the Parties at the national, regional and international levels in order to reduce continually and substantially the prevalence of tobacco use and exposure to tobacco smoke.
      Article 4
      Guiding principles
      To achieve the objective of this Convention and its protocols and to implement its provisions, the Parties shall be guided, inter alia, by the principles set out below:

                  1.

                  Every person should be informed of the health consequences, addictive nature and mortal threat posed by tobacco consumption and exposure to tobacco smoke and effective legislative, executive, administrative or other measures should be contemplated at the appropriate governmental level to protect all persons from exposure to tobacco smoke.

                  2.

                  Strong political commitment is necessary to develop and support, at the national, regional and international levels, comprehensive multisectoral measures and coordinated responses, taking into consideration:

                              (a)

                              the need to take measures to protect all persons from exposure to tobacco smoke;

                              (b)

                              the need to take measures to prevent the initiation, to promote and support cessation, and to decrease the consumption of tobacco products in any form;

                              (c)

                              the need to take measures to promote the participation of indigenous individuals and communities in the development, implementation and evaluation of tobacco control programmes that are socially and culturally appropriate to their needs and perspectives; and

                              (d)

                              the need to take measures to address gender-specific risks when developing tobacco control strategies.

                  3.

                  International cooperation, particularly transfer of technology, knowledge and financial assistance and provision of related expertise, to establish and implement effective tobacco control programmes, taking into consideration local culture, as well as social, economic, political and legal factors, is an important part of the Convention.

                  4.

                  Comprehensive multisectoral measures and responses to reduce consumption of all tobacco products at the national, regional and international levels are essential so as to prevent, in accordance with public health principles, the incidence of diseases, premature disability and mortality due to tobacco consumption and exposure to tobacco smoke.

                  5.

                  Issues relating to liability, as determined by each Party within its jurisdiction, are an important part of comprehensive tobacco control.

                  6.

                  The importance of technical and financial assistance to aid the economic transition of tobacco growers and workers whose livelihoods are seriously affected as a consequence of tobacco control programmes in developing country Parties, as well as Parties with economies in transition, should be recognised and addressed in the context of nationally developed strategies for sustainable development.

                  7.

                  The participation of civil society is essential in achieving the objective of the Convention and its protocols.

            Article 5
      General obligations
      1.   Each Party shall develop, implement, periodically update and review comprehensive multisectoral national tobacco control strategies, plans and programmes in accordance with this Convention and the protocols to which it is a Party.
      2.   Towards this end, each Party shall, in accordance with its capabilities:

                  (a)

                  establish or reinforce and finance a national coordinating mechanism or focal points for tobacco control; and

                  (b)

                  adopt and implement effective legislative, executive, administrative and/or other measures and cooperate, as appropriate, with other Parties in developing appropriate policies for preventing and reducing tobacco consumption, nicotine addiction and exposure to tobacco smoke.

            3.   In setting and implementing their public health policies with respect to tobacco control, Parties shall act to protect these policies from commercial and other vested interests of the tobacco industry in accordance with national law.
      4.   The Parties shall cooperate in the formulation of proposed measures, procedures and guidelines for the implementation of the Convention and the protocols to which they are Parties.
      5.   The Parties shall cooperate, as appropriate, with competent international and regional intergovernmental organisations and other bodies to achieve the objectives of the Convention and the protocols to which they are Parties.
      6.   The Parties shall, within means and resources at their disposal, cooperate to raise financial resources for effective implementation of the Convention through bilateral and multilateral funding mechanisms.
      PART III
      MEASURES RELATING TO THE REDUCTION OF DEMAND FOR TOBACCO
      Article 6
      Price and tax measures to reduce the demand for tobacco
      1.   The Parties recognise that price and tax measures are an effective and important means of reducing tobacco consumption by various segments of the population, in particular young persons.
      2.   Without prejudice to the sovereign right of the Parties to determine and establish their taxation policies, each Party should take account of its national health objectives concerning tobacco control and adopt or maintain, as appropriate, measures which may include:

                  (a)

                  implementing tax policies and, where appropriate, price policies, on tobacco products so as to contribute to the health objectives aimed at reducing tobacco consumption; and

                  (b)

                  prohibiting or restricting, as appropriate, sales to and/or importations by international travellers of tax- and duty-free tobacco products.

            3.   The Parties shall provide rates of taxation for tobacco products and trends in tobacco consumption in their periodic reports to the Conference of the Parties, in accordance with Article 21.
      Article 7
      Non price measures to reduce the demand for tobacco
      The Parties recognise that comprehensive non-price measures are an effective and important means of reducing tobacco consumption. Each Party shall adopt and implement effective legislative, executive, administrative or other measures necessary to implement its obligations pursuant to Articles 8 to 13 and shall cooperate, as appropriate, with each other directly or through competent international bodies with a view to their implementation. The Conference of the Parties shall propose appropriate guidelines for the implementation of the provisions of these Articles.
      Article 8
      Protection from exposure to tobacco smoke
      1.   Parties recognise that scientific evidence has unequivocally established that exposure to tobacco smoke causes death, disease and disability.
      2.   Each Party shall adopt and implement in areas of existing national jurisdiction as determined by national law and actively promote at other jurisdictional levels the adoption and implementation of effective legislative, executive, administrative and/or other measures, providing for protection from exposure to tobacco smoke in indoor workplaces, public transport, indoor public places and, as appropriate, other public places.
      Article 9
      Regulation of the contents of tobacco products
      The Conference of the Parties, in consultation with competent international bodies, shall propose guidelines for testing and measuring the contents and emissions of tobacco products, and for the regulation of these contents and emissions. Each Party shall, where approved by competent national authorities, adopt and implement effective legislative, executive and administrative or other measures for such testing and measuring, and for such regulation.
      Article 10
      Regulation of tobacco product disclosures
      Each Party shall, in accordance with its national law, adopt and implement effective legislative, executive, administrative or other measures requiring manufacturers and importers of tobacco products to disclose to governmental authorities information about the contents and emissions of tobacco products. Each Party shall further adopt and implement effective measures for public disclosure of information about the toxic constituents of the tobacco products and the emissions that they may produce.
      Article 11
      Packaging and labelling of tobacco products
      1.   Each Party shall, within a period of three years after entry into force of this Convention for that Party, adopt and implement, in accordance with its national law, effective measures to ensure that:

                  (a)

                  tobacco product packaging and labelling do not promote a tobacco product by any means that are false, misleading, deceptive or likely to create an erroneous impression about its characteristics, health effects, hazards or emissions, including any term, descriptor, trademark, figurative or any other sign that directly or indirectly creates the false impression that a particular tobacco product is less harmful than other tobacco products. These may include terms such as ‘low tar’, ‘light’, ‘ultra-light’ or ‘mild’; and

                  (b)

                  each unit packet and package of tobacco products and any outside packaging and labelling of such products also carry health warnings describing the harmful effects of tobacco use, and may include other appropriate messages. These warnings and messages:

                              (i)

                              shall be approved by the competent national authority;

                              (ii)

                              shall be rotating;

                              (iii)

                              shall be large, clear, visible and legible;

                              (iv)

                              should be 50 % or more of the principal display areas but shall be no less than 30 % of the principal display areas;

                              (v)

                              may be in the form of or include pictures or pictograms.

            2.   Each unit packet and package of tobacco products and any outside packaging and labelling of such products shall, in addition to the warnings specified in paragraph 1(b) of this Article, contain information on relevant constituents and emissions of tobacco products as defined by national authorities.
      3.   Each Party shall require that the warnings and other textual information specified in paragraphs 1(b) and paragraph 2 of this Article will appear on each unit packet and package of tobacco products and any outside packaging and labelling of such products in its principal language or languages.
      4.   For the purposes of this Article, the term ‘outside packaging and labelling’ in relation to tobacco products applies to any packaging and labelling used in the retail sale of the product.
      Article 12
      Education, communication, training and public awareness
      Each Party shall promote and strengthen public awareness of tobacco control issues, using all available communication tools, as appropriate. Towards this end, each Party shall adopt and implement effective legislative, executive, administrative or other measures to promote:

                  (a)

                  broad access to effective and comprehensive educational and public awareness programmes on the health risks including the addictive characteristics of tobacco consumption and exposure to tobacco smoke;

                  (b)

                  public awareness about the health risks of tobacco consumption and exposure to tobacco smoke, and about the benefits of the cessation of tobacco use and tobacco-free lifestyles as specified in Article 14(2);

                  (c)

                  public access, in accordance with national law, to a wide range of information on the tobacco industry as relevant to the objective of this Convention;

                  (d)

                  effective and appropriate training or sensitisation and awareness programmes on tobacco control addressed to persons such as health workers, community workers, social workers, media professionals, educators, decision-makers, administrators and other concerned persons;

                  (e)

                  awareness and participation of public and private agencies and nongovernmental organisations not affiliated with the tobacco industry in developing and implementing intersectoral programmes and strategies for tobacco control; and

                  (f)

                  public awareness of and access to information regarding the adverse health, economic, and environmental consequences of tobacco production and consumption.

            Article 13
      Tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship
      1.   Parties recognise that a comprehensive ban on advertising, promotion and sponsorship would reduce the consumption of tobacco products.
      2.   Each Party shall, in accordance with its constitution or constitutional principles, undertake a comprehensive ban of all tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship. This shall include, subject to the legal environment and technical means available to that Party, a comprehensive ban on cross-border advertising, promotion and sponsorship originating from its territory. In this respect, within the period of five years after entry into force of this Convention for that Party, each Party shall undertake appropriate legislative, executive, administrative and/or other measures and report accordingly in conformity with Article 21.
      3.   A Party that is not in a position to undertake a comprehensive ban due to its constitution or constitutional principles shall apply restrictions on all tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship. This shall include, subject to the legal environment and technical means available to that Party, restrictions or a comprehensive ban on advertising, promotion and sponsorship originating from its territory with cross-border effects. In this respect, each Party shall undertake appropriate legislative, executive, administrative and/or other measures and report accordingly in conformity with Article 21.
      4.   As a minimum, and in accordance with its constitution or constitutional principles, each Party shall:

                  (a)

                  prohibit all forms of tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship that promote a tobacco product by any means that are false, misleading or deceptive or likely to create an erroneous impression about its characteristics, health effects, hazards or emissions;

                  (b)

                  require that health or other appropriate warnings or messages accompany all tobacco advertising and, as appropriate, promotion and sponsorship;

                  (c)

                  restrict the use of direct or indirect incentives that encourage the purchase of tobacco products by the public;

                  (d)

                  require, if it does not have a comprehensive ban, the disclosure to relevant governmental authorities of expenditures by the tobacco industry on advertising, promotion and sponsorship not yet prohibited. Those authorities may decide to make those figures available, subject to national law, to the public and to the Conference of the Parties, pursuant to Article 21;

                  (e)

                  undertake a comprehensive ban or, in the case of a Party that is not in a position to undertake a comprehensive ban due to its constitution or constitutional principles, restrict tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship on radio, television, print media and, as appropriate, other media, such as the internet, within a period of five years; and

                  (f)

                  prohibit, or in the case of a Party that is not in a position to prohibit due to its constitution or constitutional principles restrict, tobacco sponsorship of international events, activities and/or participants therein.

            5.   Parties are encouraged to implement measures beyond the obligations set out in paragraph 4.
      6.   Parties shall cooperate in the development of technologies and other means necessary to facilitate the elimination of cross-border advertising.
      7.   Parties which have a ban on certain forms of tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship have the sovereign right to ban those forms of cross-border tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship entering their territory and to impose equal penalties as those applicable to domestic advertising, promotion and sponsorship originating from their territory in accordance with their national law. This paragraph does not endorse or approve of any particular penalty.
      8.   Parties shall consider the elaboration of a protocol setting out appropriate measures that require international collaboration for a comprehensive ban on cross border advertising, promotion and sponsorship.
      Article 14
      Demand reduction measures concerning tobacco dependence and cessation
      1.   Each Party shall develop and disseminate appropriate, comprehensive and integrated guidelines based on scientific evidence and best practices, taking into account national circumstances and priorities, and shall take effective measures to promote cessation of tobacco use and adequate treatment for tobacco dependence.
      2.   Towards this end, each Party shall endeavour to:

                  (a)

                  design and implement effective programmes aimed at promoting the cessation of tobacco use, in such locations as educational institutions, health care facilities, workplaces and sporting environments;

                  (b)

                  include diagnosis and treatment of tobacco dependence and counselling services on cessation of tobacco use in national health and education programmes, plans and strategies, with the participation of health workers, community workers and social workers as appropriate;

                  (c)

                  establish in health care facilities and rehabilitation centres programmes for diagnosing, counselling, preventing and treating tobacco dependence; and

                  (d)

                  collaborate with other Parties to facilitate accessibility and affordability for treatment of tobacco dependence including pharmaceutical products pursuant to Article 22. Such products and their constituents may include medicines, products used to administer medicines and diagnostics when appropriate.

            PART IV
      MEASURES RELATING TO THE REDUCTION OF THE SUPPLY OF TOBACCO
      Article 15
      Illicit trade in tobacco products
      1.   The Parties recognise that the elimination of all forms of illicit trade in tobacco products, including smuggling, illicit manufacturing and counterfeiting, and the development and implementation of related national law, in addition to subregional, regional and global agreements, are essential components of tobacco control.
      2.   Each Party shall adopt and implement effective legislative, executive, administrative or other measures to ensure that all unit packets and packages of tobacco products and any outside packaging of such products are marked to assist Parties in determining the origin of tobacco products, and in accordance with national law and relevant bilateral or multilateral agreements, assist Parties in determining the point of diversion and monitor, document and control the movement of tobacco products and their legal status. In addition, each Party shall:

                  (a)

                  require that unit packets and packages of tobacco products for retail and wholesale use that are sold on its domestic market carry the statement: ‘Sales only allowed in (insert name of the country, subnational, regional or federal unit)’ or carry any other effective marking indicating the final destination or which would assist authorities in determining whether the product is legally for sale on the domestic market; and

                  (b)

                  consider, as appropriate, developing a practical tracking and tracing regime that would further secure the distribution system and assist in the investigation of illicit trade.

            3.   Each Party shall require that the packaging information or marking specified in paragraph 2 of this Article shall be presented in legible form and/or appear in its principal language or languages.
      4.   With a view to eliminating illicit trade in tobacco products, each Party shall:

                  (a)

                  monitor and collect data on cross-border trade in tobacco products, including illicit trade, and exchange information among customs, tax and other authorities, as appropriate, and in accordance with national law and relevant applicable bilateral or multilateral agreements;

                  (b)

                  enact or strengthen legislation, with appropriate penalties and remedies, against illicit trade in tobacco products, including counterfeit and contraband cigarettes;

                  (c)

                  take appropriate steps to ensure that all confiscated manufacturing equipment, counterfeit and contraband cigarettes and other tobacco products are destroyed, using environmentally-friendly methods where feasible, or disposed of in accordance with national law;

                  (d)

                  adopt and implement measures to monitor, document and control the storage and distribution of tobacco products held or moving under suspension of taxes or duties within its jurisdiction; and

                  (e)

                  adopt measures as appropriate to enable the confiscation of proceeds derived from the illicit trade in tobacco products.

            5.   Information collected pursuant to subparagraphs 4(a) and 4(d) of this Article shall, as appropriate, be provided in aggregate form by the Parties in their periodic reports to the Conference of the Parties, in accordance with Article 21.
      6.   The Parties shall, as appropriate and in accordance with national law, promote cooperation between national agencies, as well as relevant regional and international intergovernmental organisations as it relates to investigations, prosecutions and proceedings, with a view to eliminating illicit trade in tobacco products. Special emphasis shall be placed on cooperation at regional and subregional levels to combat illicit trade of tobacco products.
      7.   Each Party shall endeavour to adopt and implement further measures including licensing, where appropriate, to control or regulate the production and distribution of tobacco products in order to prevent illicit trade.
      Article 16
      Sales to and by minors
      1.   Each Party shall adopt and implement effective legislative, executive, administrative or other measures at the appropriate government level to prohibit the sales of tobacco products to persons under the age set by domestic law, national law or 18. These measures may include:

                  (a)

                  requiring that all sellers of tobacco products place a clear and prominent indicator inside their point of sale about the prohibition of tobacco sales to minors and, in case of doubt, request that each tobacco purchaser provide appropriate evidence of having reached full legal age;

                  (b)

                  banning the sale of tobacco products in any manner by which they are directly accessible, such as store shelves;

                  (c)

                  prohibiting the manufacture and sale of sweets, snacks, toys or any other objects in the form of tobacco products which appeal to minors; and

                  (d)

                  ensuring that tobacco vending machines under its jurisdiction are not accessible to minors and do not promote the sale of tobacco products to minors.

            2.   Each Party shall prohibit or promote the prohibition of the distribution of free tobacco products to the public and especially minors.
      3.   Each Party shall endeavour to prohibit the sale of cigarettes individually or in small packets which increase the affordability of such products to minors.
      4.   The Parties recognise that in order to increase their effectiveness, measures to prevent tobacco product sales to minors should, where appropriate, be implemented in conjunction with other provisions contained in this Convention.
      5.   When signing, ratifying, accepting, approving or acceding to the Convention or at any time thereafter, a Party may, by means of a binding written declaration, indicate its commitment to prohibit the introduction of tobacco vending machines within its jurisdiction or, as appropriate, to a total ban on tobacco vending machines. The declaration made pursuant to this Article shall be circulated by the Depositary to all Parties to the Convention.
      6.   Each Party shall adopt and implement effective legislative, executive, administrative or other measures, including penalties against sellers and distributors, in order to ensure compliance with the obligations contained in paragraphs 1 to 5 of this Article.
      7.   Each Party should, as appropriate, adopt and implement effective legislative, executive, administrative or other measures to prohibit the sales of tobacco products by persons under the age set by domestic law, national law or 18.
      Article 17
      Provision of support for economically viable alternative activities
      Parties shall, in cooperation with each other and with competent international and regional intergovernmental organisations, promote, as appropriate, economically viable alternatives for tobacco workers, growers and, as the case may be, individual sellers.
      PART V
      PROTECTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT
      Article 18
      Protection of the environment and the health of persons
      In carrying out their obligations under this Convention, the Parties agree to have due regard to the protection of the environment and the health of persons in relation to the environment in respect of tobacco cultivation and manufacture within their respective territories.
      PART VI
      QUESTIONS RELATED TO LIABILITY
      Article 19
      Liability
      1.   For the purpose of tobacco control, the Parties shall consider taking legislative action or promoting their existing laws, where necessary, to deal with criminal and civil liability, including compensation where appropriate.
      2.   Parties shall cooperate with each other in exchanging information through the Conference of the Parties in accordance with Article 21 including:

                  (a)

                  information on the health effects of the consumption of tobacco products and exposure to tobacco smoke in accordance with Article 20(3)(a); and

                  (b)

                  information on legislation and regulations in force as well as pertinent jurisprudence.

            3.   The Parties shall, as appropriate and mutually agreed, within the limits of national legislation, policies, legal practices and applicable existing treaty arrangements, afford one another assistance in legal proceedings relating to civil and criminal liability consistent with this Convention.
      4.   The Convention shall in no way affect or limit any rights of access of the Parties to each other's courts where such rights exist.
      5.   The Conference of the Parties may consider, if possible, at an early stage, taking account of the work being done in relevant international forums, issues related to liability including appropriate international approaches to these issues and appropriate means to support, upon request, the Parties in their legislative and other activities in accordance with this Article.
      PART VII
      SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL COOPERATION AND COMMUNICATION OF INFORMATION
      Article 20
      Research, surveillance and exchange of information
      1.   The Parties undertake to develop and promote national research and to coordinate research programmes at the regional and international levels in the field of tobacco control. Towards this end, each Party shall:

                  (a)

                  initiate and cooperate in, directly or through competent international and regional intergovernmental organisations and other bodies, the conduct of research and scientific assessments, and in so doing promote and encourage research that addresses the determinants and consequences of tobacco consumption and exposure to tobacco smoke as well as research for identification of alternative crops; and

                  (b)

                  promote and strengthen, with the support of competent international and regional intergovernmental organisations and other bodies, training and support for all those engaged in tobacco control activities, including research, implementation and evaluation.

            2.   The Parties shall establish, as appropriate, programmes for national, regional and global surveillance of the magnitude, patterns, determinants and consequences of tobacco consumption and exposure to tobacco smoke. Towards this end, the Parties should integrate tobacco surveillance programmes into national, regional and global health surveillance programmes so that data are comparable and can be analysed at the regional and international levels, as appropriate.
      3.   Parties recognise the importance of financial and technical assistance from international and regional intergovernmental organisations and other bodies. Each Party shall endeavour to:

                  (a)

                  establish progressively a national system for the epidemiological surveillance of tobacco consumption and related social, economic and health indicators;

                  (b)

                  cooperate with competent international and regional intergovernmental organisations and other bodies, including governmental and nongovernmental agencies, in regional and global tobacco surveillance and exchange of information on the indicators specified in paragraph 3(a) of this Article; and

                  (c)

                  cooperate with the World Health Organisation in the development of general guidelines or procedures for defining the collection, analysis and dissemination of tobacco-related surveillance data.

            4.   The Parties shall, subject to national law, promote and facilitate the exchange of publicly available scientific, technical, socioeconomic, commercial and legal information, as well as information regarding practices of the tobacco industry and the cultivation of tobacco, which is relevant to this Convention, and in so doing shall take into account and address the special needs of developing country Parties and Parties with economies in transition. Each Party shall endeavour to:

                  (a)

                  progressively establish and maintain an updated database of laws and regulations on tobacco control and, as appropriate, information about their enforcement, as well as pertinent jurisprudence, and cooperate in the development of programmes for regional and global tobacco control;

                  (b)

                  progressively establish and maintain updated data from national surveillance programmes in accordance with paragraph 3(a) of this Article; and

                  (c)

                  cooperate with competent international organisations to progressively establish and maintain a global system to regularly collect and disseminate information on tobacco production, manufacture and the activities of the tobacco industry which have an impact on the Convention or national tobacco control activities.

            5.   Parties should cooperate in regional and international intergovernmental organisations and financial and development institutions of which they are members, to promote and encourage provision of technical and financial resources to the Secretariat to assist developing country Parties and Parties with economies in transition to meet their commitments on research, surveillance and exchange of information.
      Article 21
      Reporting and exchange of information
      1.   Each Party shall submit to the Conference of the Parties, through the Secretariat, periodic reports on its implementation of this Convention, which should include the following:

                  (a)

                  information on legislative, executive, administrative or other measures taken to implement the Convention;

                  (b)

                  information, as appropriate, on any constraints or barriers encountered in its implementation of the Convention, and on the measures taken to overcome these barriers;

                  (c)

                  information, as appropriate, on financial and technical assistance provided or received for tobacco control activities;

                  (d)

                  information on surveillance and research as specified in Article 20; and

                  (e)

                  information specified in Articles 6(3), 13(2), 13(3), 13(4)(d), 15(5) and 19(2).

            2.   The frequency and format of such reports by all Parties shall be determined by the Conference of the Parties. Each Party shall make its initial report within two years of the entry into force of the Convention for that Party.
      3.   The Conference of the Parties, pursuant to Articles 22 and 26, shall consider arrangements to assist developing country Parties and Parties with economies in transition, at their request, in meeting their obligations under this Article.
      4.   The reporting and exchange of information under the Convention shall be subject to national law regarding confidentiality and privacy. The Parties shall protect, as mutually agreed, any confidential information that is exchanged.
      Article 22
      Cooperation in the scientific, technical, and legal fields and provision of related expertise
      1.   The Parties shall cooperate directly or through competent international bodies to strengthen their capacity to fulfil the obligations arising from this Convention, taking into account the needs of developing country Parties and Parties with economies in transition. Such cooperation shall promote the transfer of technical, scientific and legal expertise and technology, as mutually agreed, to establish and strengthen national tobacco control strategies, plans and programmes aiming at, inter alia:

                  (a)

                  facilitation of the development, transfer and acquisition of technology, knowledge, skills, capacity and expertise related to tobacco control;

                  (b)

                  provision of technical, scientific, legal and other expertise to establish and strengthen national tobacco control strategies, plans and programmes, aiming at implementation of the Convention through, inter alia:

                              (i)

                              assisting, upon request, in the development of a strong legislative foundation as well as technical programmes, including those on prevention of initiation, promotion of cessation and protection from exposure to tobacco smoke;

                              (ii)

                              assisting, as appropriate, tobacco workers in the development of appropriate economically and legally viable alternative livelihoods in an economically viable manner; and

                              (iii)

                              assisting, as appropriate, tobacco growers in shifting agricultural production to alternative crops in an economically viable manner;

                  (c)

                  support for appropriate training or sensitisation programmes for appropriate personnel in accordance with Article 12;

                  (d)

                  provision, as appropriate, of the necessary material, equipment and supplies, as well as logistical support, for tobacco control strategies, plans and programmes;

                  (e)

                  identification of methods for tobacco control, including comprehensive treatment of nicotine addiction; and

                  (f)

                  promotion, as appropriate, of research to increase the affordability of comprehensive treatment of nicotine addiction.

            2.   The Conference of the Parties shall promote and facilitate transfer of technical, scientific and legal expertise and technology with the financial support secured in accordance with Article 26.
      PART VIII
      INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS AND FINANCIAL RESOURCES
      Article 23
      Conference of the Parties
      1.   A Conference of the Parties is hereby established. The first session of the Conference shall be convened by the World Health Organisation not later than one year after the entry into force of this Convention. The Conference will determine the venue and timing of subsequent regular sessions at its first session.
      2.   Extraordinary sessions of the Conference of the Parties shall be held at such other times as may be deemed necessary by the Conference, or at the written request of any Party, provided that, within six months of the request being communicated to them by the Secretariat of the Convention, it is supported by at least one-third of the Parties.
      3.   The Conference of the Parties shall adopt by consensus its Rules of Procedure at its first session.
      4.   The Conference of the Parties shall by consensus adopt financial rules for itself as well as governing the funding of any subsidiary bodies it may establish as well as financial provisions governing the functioning of the Secretariat. At each ordinary session, it shall adopt a budget for the financial period until the next ordinary session.
      5.   The Conference of the Parties shall keep under regular review the implementation of the Convention and take the decisions necessary to promote its effective implementation and may adopt protocols, annexes and amendments to the Convention, in accordance with Articles 28, 29 and 33. Towards this end, it shall:

                  (a)

                  promote and facilitate the exchange of information pursuant to Articles 20 and 21;

                  (b)

                  promote and guide the development and periodic refinement of comparable methodologies for research and the collection of data, in addition to those provided for in Article 20, relevant to the implementation of the Convention;

                  (c)

                  promote, as appropriate, the development, implementation and evaluation of strategies, plans, and programmes, as well as policies, legislation and other measures;

                  (d)

                  consider reports submitted by the Parties in accordance with Article 21 and adopt regular reports on the implementation of the Convention;

                  (e)

                  promote and facilitate the mobilisation of financial resources for the implementation of the Convention in accordance with Article 26;

                  (f)

                  establish such subsidiary bodies as are necessary to achieve the objective of the Convention;

                  (g)

                  request, where appropriate, the services and cooperation of, and information provided by, competent and relevant organisations and bodies of the United Nations system and other international and regional intergovernmental organisations and nongovernmental organisations and bodies as a means of strengthening the implementation of the Convention; and

                  (h)

                  consider other action, as appropriate, for the achievement of the objective of the Convention in the light of experience gained in its implementation.

            6.   The Conference of the Parties shall establish the criteria for the participation of observers at its proceedings.
      Article 24
      Secretariat
      1.   The Conference of the Parties shall designate a permanent secretariat and make arrangements for its functioning. The Conference of the Parties shall endeavour to do so at its first session.
      2.   Until such time as a permanent secretariat is designated and established, secretariat functions under this Convention shall be provided by the World Health Organisation.
      3.   Secretariat functions shall be:

                  (a)

                  to make arrangements for sessions of the Conference of the Parties and any subsidiary bodies and to provide them with services as required;

                  (b)

                  to transmit reports received by it pursuant to the Convention;

                  (c)

                  to provide support to the Parties, particularly developing country Parties and Parties with economies in transition, on request, in the compilation and communication of information required in accordance with the provisions of the Convention;

                  (d)

                  to prepare reports on its activities under the Convention under the guidance of the Conference of the Parties and submit them to the Conference of the Parties;

                  (e)

                  to ensure, under the guidance of the Conference of the Parties, the necessary coordination with the competent international and regional intergovernmental organisations and other bodies;

                  (f)

                  to enter, under the guidance of the Conference of the Parties, into such administrative or contractual arrangements as may be required for the effective discharge of its functions; and

                  (g)

                  to perform other secretariat functions specified by the Convention and by any of its protocols and such other functions as may be determined by the Conference of the Parties.

            Article 25
      Relations between the Conference of the Parties and intergovernmental organisations
      In order to provide technical and financial cooperation for achieving the objective of this Convention, the Conference of the Parties may request the cooperation of competent international and regional intergovernmental organisations including financial and development institutions.
      Article 26
      Financial resources
      1.   The Parties recognise the important role that financial resources play in achieving the objective of this Convention.
      2.   Each Party shall provide financial support in respect of its national activities intended to achieve the objective of the Convention, in accordance with its national plans, priorities and programmes.
      3.   Parties shall promote, as appropriate, the utilisation of bilateral, regional, subregional and other multilateral channels to provide funding for the development and strengthening of multisectoral comprehensive tobacco control programmes of developing country Parties and Parties with economies in transition. Accordingly, economically viable alternatives to tobacco production, including crop diversification should be addressed and supported in the context of nationally developed strategies of sustainable development.
      4.   Parties represented in relevant regional and international intergovernmental organisations, and financial and development institutions shall encourage these entities to provide financial assistance for developing country Parties and for Parties with economies in transition to assist them in meeting their obligations under the Convention, without limiting the rights of participation within these organisations.
      5.   The Parties agree that:

                  (a)

                  to assist Parties in meeting their obligations under the Convention, all relevant potential and existing resources, financial, technical, or otherwise, both public and private that are available for tobacco control activities, should be mobilised and utilised for the benefit of all Parties, especially developing countries and countries with economies in transition;

                  (b)

                  the Secretariat shall advise developing country Parties and Parties with economies in transition, upon request, on available sources of funding to facilitate the implementation of their obligations under the Convention;

                  (c)

                  the Conference of the Parties in its first session shall review existing and potential sources and mechanisms of assistance based on a study conducted by the Secretariat and other relevant information, and consider their adequacy; and

                  (d)

                  the results of this review shall be taken into account by the Conference of the Parties in determining the necessity to enhance existing mechanisms or to establish a voluntary global fund or other appropriate financial mechanisms to channel additional financial resources, as needed, to developing country Parties and Parties with economies in transition to assist them in meeting the objectives of the Convention.

            PART IX
      SETTLEMENT OF DISPUTES
      Article 27
      Settlement of disputes
      1.   In the event of a dispute between two or more Parties concerning the interpretation or application of this Convention, the Parties concerned shall seek through diplomatic channels a settlement of the dispute through negotiation or any other peaceful means of their own choice, including good offices, mediation, or conciliation. Failure to reach agreement by good offices, mediation or conciliation shall not absolve parties to the dispute from the responsibility of continuing to seek to resolve it.
      2.   When ratifying, accepting, approving, formally confirming or acceding to the Convention, or at any time thereafter, a State or regional economic integration organisation may declare in writing to the Depositary that, for a dispute not resolved in accordance with paragraph 1 of this Article, it accepts, as compulsory, ad hoc arbitration in accordance with procedures to be adopted by consensus by the Conference of the Parties.
      3.   The provisions of this Article shall apply with respect to any protocol as between the parties to the protocol, unless otherwise provided therein.
      PART X
      DEVELOPMENT OF THE CONVENTION
      Article 28
      Amendments to this Convention
      1.   Any Party may propose amendments to this Convention. Such amendments will be considered by the Conference of the Parties.
      2.   Amendments to the Convention shall be adopted by the Conference of the Parties. The text of any proposed amendment to the Convention shall be communicated to the Parties by the Secretariat at least six months before the session at which it is proposed for adoption. The Secretariat shall also communicate proposed amendments to the signatories of the Convention and, for information, to the Depositary.
      3.   The Parties shall make every effort to reach agreement by consensus on any proposed amendment to the Convention. If all efforts at consensus have been exhausted, and no agreement reached, the amendment shall as a last resort be adopted by a three-quarters majority vote of the Parties present and voting at the session. For purposes of this Article, Parties present and voting means Parties present and casting an affirmative or negative vote. Any adopted amendment shall be communicated by the Secretariat to the Depositary, who shall circulate it to all Parties for acceptance.
      4.   Instruments of acceptance in respect of an amendment shall be deposited with the Depositary. An amendment adopted in accordance with paragraph 3 of this Article shall enter into force for those Parties having accepted it on the ninetieth day after the date of receipt by the Depositary of an instrument of acceptance by at least two-thirds of the Parties to the Convention.
      5.   The amendment shall enter into force for any other Party on the ninetieth day after the date on which that Party deposits with the Depositary its instrument of acceptance of the said amendment.
      Article 29
      Adoption and amendment of annexes to this Convention
      1.   Annexes to this Convention and amendments thereto shall be proposed, adopted and shall enter into force in accordance with the procedure set forth in Article 28.
      2.   Annexes to the Convention shall form an integral part thereof and, unless otherwise expressly provided, a reference to the Convention constitutes at the same time a reference to any annexes thereto.
      3.   Annexes shall be restricted to lists, forms and any other descriptive material relating to procedural, scientific, technical or administrative matters.
      PART XI
      FINAL PROVISIONS
      Article 30
      Reservations
      No reservations may be made to this Convention.
      Article 31
      Withdrawal
      1.   At any time after two years from the date on which this Convention has entered into force for a Party, that Party may withdraw from the Convention by giving written notification to the Depositary.
      2.   Any such withdrawal shall take effect upon expiry of one year from the date of receipt by the Depositary of the notification of withdrawal, or on such later date as may be specified in the notification of withdrawal.
      3.   Any Party that withdraws from the Convention shall be considered as also having withdrawn from any protocol to which it is a Party.
      Article 32
      Right to vote
      1.   Each Party to this Convention shall have one vote, except as provided for in paragraph 2 of this Article.
      2.   Regional economic integration organisations, in matters within their competence, shall exercise their right to vote with a number of votes equal to the number of their Member States that are Parties to the Convention. Such an organisation shall not exercise its right to vote if any of its Member States exercises its right, and vice versa.
      Article 33
      Protocols
      1.   Any Party may propose protocols. Such proposals will be considered by the Conference of the Parties.
      2.   The Conference of the Parties may adopt protocols to this Convention. In adopting these protocols every effort shall be made to reach consensus. If all efforts at consensus have been exhausted, and no agreement reached, the protocol shall as a last resort be adopted by a three-quarters majority vote of the Parties present and voting at the session. For the purposes of this Article, Parties present and voting means Parties present and casting an affirmative or negative vote.
      3.   The text of any proposed protocol shall be communicated to the Parties by the Secretariat at least six months before the session at which it is proposed for adoption.
      4.   Only Parties to the Convention may be parties to a protocol.
      5.   Any protocol to the Convention shall be binding only on the parties to the protocol in question. Only Parties to a protocol may take decisions on matters exclusively relating to the protocol in question.
      6.   The requirements for entry into force of any protocol shall be established by that instrument.
      Article 34
      Signature
      This Convention shall be open for signature by all Members of the World Health Organisation and by any States that are not Members of the World Health Organisation but are members of the United Nations and by regional economic integration organisations at the World Health Organisation Headquarters in Geneva from 16 June 2003 to 22 June 2003, and thereafter at United Nations Headquarters in New York, from 30 June 2003 to 29 June 2004.
      Article 35
      Ratification, acceptance, approval, formal confirmation or accession
      1.   This Convention shall be subject to ratification, acceptance, approval or accession by States and to formal confirmation or accession by regional economic integration organisations. It shall be open for accession from the day after the date on which the Convention is closed for signature. Instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval, formal confirmation or accession shall be deposited with the Depositary.
      2.   Any regional economic integration organisation which becomes a Party to the Convention without any of its Member States being a Party shall be bound by all the obligations under the Convention. In the case of those organisations, one or more of whose Member States is a Party to the Convention, the organisation and its Member States shall decide on their respective responsibilities for the performance of their obligations under the Convention. In such cases, the organisation and the Member States shall not be entitled to exercise rights under the Convention concurrently.
      3.   Regional economic integration organisations shall, in their instruments relating to formal confirmation or in their instruments of accession, declare the extent of their competence with respect to the matters governed by the Convention. These organisations shall also inform the Depositary, who shall in turn inform the Parties, of any substantial modification in the extent of their competence.
      Article 36
      Entry into force
      1.   This Convention shall enter into force on the 90th day following the date of deposit of the fortieth instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval, formal confirmation or accession with the Depositary.
      2.   For each State that ratifies, accepts or approves the Convention or accedes thereto after the conditions set out in paragraph 1 of this Article for entry into force have been fulfilled, the Convention shall enter into force on the 90th day following the date of deposit of its instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession.
      3.   For each regional economic integration organisation depositing an instrument of formal confirmation or an instrument of accession after the conditions set out in paragraph 1 of this Article for entry into force have been fulfilled, the Convention shall enter into force on the 90th day following the date of its depositing of the instrument of formal confirmation or of accession.
      4.   For the purposes of this Article, any instrument deposited by a regional economic integration organisation shall not be counted as additional to those deposited by States Members of the organisation.
      Article 37
      Depositary
      The Secretary General of the United Nations shall be the Depositary of this Convention and amendments thereto and of protocols and annexes adopted in accordance with Articles 28, 29 and 33.
      Article 38
      Authentic texts
      The original of this Convention, of which the Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish texts are equally authentic, shall be deposited with the Secretary-General of the United Nations.
      IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned, being duly authorised to that effect, have signed this Convention.

         Done at Geneva, this twenty-first day of May two thousand and three.

      (1)  Where appropriate, national will refer equally to regional economic integration organisations.
   ANNEX II

      Declaration made by the European Community pursuant to Article 35(3) of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control
      The European Community declares that, in accordance with the provisions of the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Articles 3(1)(p) and 152 thereof, it is competent to adopt measures, which complement the national policies of its Member States, directed towards improving public health, preventing human illness and diseases, and obviating sources of danger to human health.
      The current members of the Community are the Kingdom of Belgium, the Czech Republic, the Kingdom of Denmark, the Federal Republic of Germany, the Republic of Estonia, the Hellenic Republic, the Kingdom of Spain, the French Republic, Ireland, the Italian Republic, the Republic of Cyprus, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, the Republic of Hungary, the Republic of Malta, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Republic of Austria, the Republic of Poland, the Portuguese Republic, the Republic of Slovenia, the Slovak Republic, the Republic of Finland, the Kingdom of Sweden and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
      Community competence exists in areas already covered by Community legislation. The Community acts listed below are illustrative of the Community's sphere of competence in accordance with the provisions of the Treaty establishing the European Community.
      The exercise of competence that Member States have transferred to the Community by virtue of the Treaties is, by its very nature, bound to continuously evolve. Therefore in this regard, the Community reserves its right to issue further declarations in the future.

         List of Community acts and programmes contributing to promoting tobacco control:

                  Council Directive 89/552/EC of 3 October 1989 on the coordination of certain provisions laid down by law, regulation or administrative action in Member States concerning the pursuit of television broadcasting activities (OJ L 298, 17.10.1989, p. 23). Directive as amended by Directive 97/36/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 202, 30.7.1997, p. 60).

                  Directive 2001/37/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 June 2001 on the approximation of the laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the Member States concerning the manufacture, presentation and sale of tobacco products (OJ L 194, 18.7.2001, p. 26).

                  Directive 2003/33/EC of 26 May 2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the approximation of the laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the Member States relating to the advertising and sponsorship of tobacco products (OJ L 152, 20.6.2003, p. 16).

                  Commission Decision 2003/641/EC of 5 September 2003 on the use of colour photographs or other illustrations as health warnings on tobacco packages (OJ L 226, 10.9.2003, p. 24).

                  Decision No 1786/2002/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 September 2002 adopting a programme of Community action in the field of public health (2003-2008) (OJ L 271, 9.10.2002, p. 1).

                  Commission Regulation (EC) No 2182/2002 of 6 December 2002 laying down detailed rules for the application of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2075/92 with regard to the Community Tobacco Fund (OJ L 331, 7.12.2002, p. 16). Regulation as amended by Regulation (EC) No 480/2004 (OJ L 78, 16.3.2004, p. 8).

                  Council Regulation (EEC)No 2913/92 of 12 October 1992 establishing the Community Customs Code (OJ L 302, 19.10.1992, p. 1). Regulation as last amended by the 2003 Act of Accession.

                  Council Regulation (EC) No 515/97 of 13 March 1997 on mutual assistance between the administrative authorities of the Member States and cooperation between the latter and the Commission to ensure the correct application of the law on customs and agricultural matters (OJ L 82, 22.3.1997, p 1). Regulation as amended by Regulation (EC) No 807/2003 (OJ L 122, 16.5.2003, p. 36).

                  Council Regulation (EC) No 3295/94 of 22 December 1994 laying down measures to prohibit the release for free circulation, export, re-export or entry for a suspensive procedure of counterfeit and pirated goods (OJ L 341, 30.12.1994, p. 8) replaced from 1.7.2004 by Council Regulation (EC) No 1383/2003 of 22 July 2003 concerning customs action against goods suspected of infringing certain intellectual property rights and the measures to be taken against goods found to have infringed such rights (OJ L 196, 2.8.2003, p. 7).

   ANNEX III
   Interpretative declaration to be made by the Community

      ‘The Community and its Member States declare that a Member State of the European Community whose national constitution or constitutional principles do not permit the introduction of a comprehensive ban on all tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship may make use of the provision enshrined in Article 13(3) of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control to accommodate regulations so as to respect national constitutional constraints.’


Avis juridique important

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32002D0192

2002/192/EC: Council Decision of 28 February 2002 concerning Ireland's request to take part in some of the provisions of the Schengen acquis

Official Journal L 064 , 07/03/2002 P. 0020 - 0023

Council Decisionof 28 February 2002concerning Ireland's request to take part in some of the provisions of the Schengen acquis(2002/192/EC)THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,Having regard to Article 4 of the Protocol integrating the Schengen acquis into the framework of the European Union annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty establishing the European Community (hereinafter referred to as "the Schengen Protocol"),Having regard to the request by the Government of Ireland, made in its letters to the President of the Council of 16 June 2000 and 1 November 2001, to participate in certain provisions of the Schengen acquis, as specified in these letters,Having regard to the Commission's opinion of 14 September 2000 on the request,Whereas:(1) Ireland has a special position in respect of matters covered by Title IV of Part Three of the Treaty establishing the European Community, as recognised in the Protocol on the position of the United Kingdom and Ireland and in the Protocol on the application of certain aspects of Article 14 of the Treaty establishing the European Community to the United Kingdom and to Ireland, annexed by the Treaty of Amsterdam to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty establishing the European Community.(2) The Schengen acquis was conceived and functions as a coherent ensemble to be fully accepted and applied by all States supporting the principle of the abolition of checks on persons at their common borders.(3) The Schengen Protocol provides for the possibility for Ireland to participate in some of the provisions of the Schengen acquis, because of the said special position of Ireland.(4) Ireland will assume the obligations of a Member State arising from the Articles of the 1990 Schengen Convention listed in this Decision.(5) Having regard to the aforementioned special position of Ireland, Ireland will not participate by virtue of this Decision in those provisions of the 1990 Convention implementing the Schengen Agreement of 14 June 1985 (hereinafter referred to as the "Schengen Convention") which concern borders.(6) Taking account of the serious matters addressed by Articles 26 and 27 of the Schengen Convention, Ireland will apply these articles, together with the measures referred to in this Decision which build upon these articles.(7) Ireland has requested to participate in the ensemble of the provisions of the Schengen acquis concerning the establishment and operation of the Schengen information system (hereinafter referred to as the "SIS"), except in respect of the provisions concerning the alerts referred to in Article 96 of the Schengen Convention and the other provisions which relate to those alerts.(8) It is the view of the Council that any partial participation by Ireland in the Schengen acquis must respect the coherence of the subject areas which constitute the ensemble of this acquis.(9) The Council thus recognises the right of Ireland to make, in accordance with Article 4 of the Schengen Protocol, a request for partial participation, noting at the same time that it is necessary to consider the impact of such participation by Ireland in the provisions concerning the establishment and operation of the SIS on the interpretation of the other relevant provisions of the Schengen acquis and on its financial implications.(10) The procedure set out in Article 2(1) of the Agreement concluded by the Council of the European Union and the Republic of Iceland and the Kingdom of Norway on the establishment of rights and obligations between Ireland and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, on the one hand, and the Republic of Iceland and the Kingdom of Norway, on the other, in areas of the Schengen acquis which apply to these States(1) has been observed,HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:Article 1Ireland shall participate in the following provisions of the Schengen acquis:(a) in respect of the provisions of the Schengen Convention, its related Final Act and Joint Statements:(i) Articles 26 and 27;Article 39;Article 44;Articles 46 and 47, except for 47(2)(c);Articles 48 to 51;Articles 52 and 53;Articles 54 to 58;Article 59;Articles 61 to 66;Articles 67 to 69;Articles 71 to 73;Articles 75 and 76;Articles 126 to 130 to the extent that they relate to the provisions in which Ireland participates by virtue of this subparagraph;Joint Declaration 3 to the Final Act on Article 71(2);(ii) the following provisions concerning the Schengen information system to the extent that they do not relate to Article 96:Article 92;Articles 93 to 95;Articles 97 to 100;Article 101, except paragraph 2 thereof;Articles 102 to 108;Articles 109 to 111, in respect of personal data registered in the national part of the SIS of Ireland;Articles 112 and 113;Article 114, in respect of personal data registered in the national part of the SIS of Ireland;Articles 115 to 118;(iii) other provisions concerning the Schengen information system:Article 119;(b) in respect of the provisions of the Agreements of Accession to the Schengen Convention, their Final Acts and Common Declarations:(i) the Agreement signed on 27 November 1990 on Accession of the Italian Republic: Article 4;(ii) the Agreement signed on 25 June 1991 on Accession of the Kingdom of Spain: Article 4 and Final Act, Part III, Declaration 2;(iii) the Agreement signed on 25 June 1991 on Accession of the Portuguese Republic: Articles 4, 5 and 6;(iv) the Agreement signed on 6 November 1992 on Accession of the Hellenic Republic: Articles 3, 4 and 5 and Final Act, Part III, Declaration 2;(v) the Agreement signed on 28 April 1995 on Accession of the Republic of Austria: Article 4;(vi) the Agreement signed on 19 December 1996 on Accession of the Kingdom of Denmark: Articles 4, and 6 and Final Act, Part II, Joint Declaration 3;(vii) the Agreement signed on 19 December 1996 on Accession of the Republic of Finland: Articles 4 and 5 and Final Act, Part II, Joint Declaration 3;(viii) the Agreement signed on 19 December 1996 on Accession of the Kingdom of Sweden: Articles 4 and 5 and Final Act, Part II, Joint Declaration 3;(c) in respect of the provisions of the following Decisions of the Executive Committee established by the Schengen Convention, to the extent that they relate to the provisions in which Ireland participates by virtue of subparagraph (a):(i) SCH/Com-ex (93) 14 (improving practical cooperation between the judicial authorities to combat drug trafficking);SCH/Com-ex (94) 28 rev (certificate provided for in Article 75 for transport of drugs and/or psychotropic substances);SCH/Com-ex (98) 26 def (setting up the Schengen implementing Convention Standing Committee), subject to an internal arrangement specifying the modalities of participation of Irish experts in missions carried out under the auspices of the relevant Council working party;SCH/Com-ex (98) 51 rev 3 (cross border police cooperation in the area of crime prevention and detection when requested);SCH/Com-ex (98) 52 (handbook on cross-border police cooperation);SCH/Com-ex (99) 1 rev 2 (drugs situation);SCH/Com-ex (99) 6 (telecommunication);SCH/Com-ex (99) 8 rev 2 (payment to informers);SCH/Com-ex (99) 11 rev 2 (agreement on cooperation in proceedings for road traffic offences);SCH/Com-ex (99) 18 (improvement of police cooperation in preventing and detecting crimes);(ii) SCH/Com-ex (97) 2 rev 2 (awarding the tender for the SIS II preliminary study);SCH/Com-ex (97) 18 (contributions from Norway and Iceland to the CCIS operation costs);SCH/Com-ex (97) 24 (future of SIS);SCH/Com-ex (97) 35 (CCIS Financial Regulations);SCH/Com-ex (98) 11 (CCIS with 15/18 connections);SCH/Com-ex (99) 5 (Sirens Manual);(d) in respect of the provisions of the following Declarations of the Executive Committee established by the Schengen Convention, to the extent that they relate to the provisions in which Ireland participates by virtue of subparagraph (a):(i) SCH/Com-ex (96) decl 6 rev 2 (declaration on extradition);(ii) SCH/Com-ex (97) decl 13 rev 2 (abduction of minors);SCH/Com-ex (99) decl 2 rev (SIS structure).Article 21. The competent Ministry referred to in the provision of Article 65(2) of the Schengen Convention shall be the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform.2. Ireland shall participate in the following Council acts:(a) Decision 2000/586/JHA of 28 September 2000 establishing a procedure for amending Articles 40(4) and (5), 41(7) and 65(2) of the Convention implementing the Schengen Agreement of 14 June 1985 on the gradual abolition of checks at common borders(2) in so far as that Decision relates to Article 65(2) of the 1990 Convention;(b) Directive 2001/40/EC of 28 May 2001 on the mutual recognition of decisions on the expulsion of third country nationals(3);(c) Directive 2001/51/EC of 28 June 2001 supplementing the provisions of Article 26 of the Convention implementing the Schengen Agreement of 14 June 1985(4).Article 3The delegation in the joint supervisory authority, set up under Article 115 of the Schengen Convention, representing the national supervisory authority of Ireland shall not be entitled to take part in voting procedures within the joint supervisory authority on matters relating to the application of provisions of the Schengen acquis, or building upon the Schengen acquis, in which Ireland does not participate.Article 41. Without prejudice to Article 6(3), the provisions referred to in Article 1 shall be put into effect, between Ireland and the Member States and other States for which these provisions have already been put into effect when the preconditions for the implementation of those provisions have been fulfilled in all of these Member States and other States, by a decision taken by the Council. The Council may decide to set different dates for the putting into effect of different provisions by subject area.2. Before the provisions referred to in Article 1 are put into effect in accordance with paragraph 1, the Council shall decide on the detailed legal and technical arrangements, including provisions relating to data protection, concerning the participation of Ireland in the provisions referred to in of Article 1(a)(ii) and (iii), (c)(ii) and (d)(ii).3. Any decision under paragraphs 1 and 2 shall be taken by the Council, acting with the unanimity of its members referred to in Article 1 of the Schengen Protocol and of the representative of the Government of Ireland. The representative of the Government of the United Kingdom shall also participate in the decisions of the Council under this Article.Article 51. Ireland shall be bound by the following Council acts:(a) Decision 1999/323/EC of 3 May 1999 on the establishment of a Financial Regulation governing the budgetary aspects of the management by the Secretary-General of the Council of contracts concluded in his name, on behalf of certain Member States, relating to the installation and the functioning of the "Help Desk Server" of the Management Unit and of the Sirens Network Phase II(5), and any amendments thereto;(b) Decision 2000/265/EC of 27 March 2000 on the establishment of a Financial Regulation governing the budgetary aspects of the management by the Deputy Secretary-General of the Council, of contracts concluded in his name, on behalf of certain Member States, relating to the installation and the functioning of the communication infrastructure for the Schengen environment, "Signet"(6), and any amendments thereto;(c) Decision 2000/777/EC of 1 December 2000 on the application of the Schengen acquis in Denmark, Finland and Sweden, and in Iceland and Norway(7);(d) Regulation (EC) No 2424/2001 of 6 December 2001 on the development of the second generation Schengen information system (SIS II)(8);(e) Decision 2001/886/JHA of 6 December 2001 on the development of the second generation Schengen information system (SIS II)(9).2. Ireland shall bear all the costs involved in the technical achievement of its partial participation in the operation of the SIS.Article 61. This Decision shall be published in the Official Journal of the European Communities.It shall take effect on 1 April 2002.2. From the date of adoption of this Decision, Ireland shall be deemed irrevocably to have notified the President of the Council under Article 5 of the Schengen Protocol that it wishes to take part in all proposals and initiatives which build upon the Schengen acquis referred to in Article 1.3. Measures building upon the Schengen acquis referred to in Article 1 which have been adopted prior to the adoption of the Council Decision referred to in Article 4(1), including the measures referred to in Article 2(2)(a) to (c), shall take effect for Ireland on the date or dates on which the Council decides, under Article 4, to put the acquis referred to in Article 1 into effect for Ireland unless the measure itself provides for a later date.Done at Brussels, 28 February 2002.For the CouncilThe PresidentA. Acebes Paniagua(1) OJ L 15, 20.1.2000, p. 2.(2) OJ L 248, 3.10.2000, p. 1.(3) OJ L 149, 2.6.2001, p. 34.(4) OJ L 187, 10.7.2001, p. 45.(5) OJ L 123, 15.5.1999, p. 51.(6) OJ L 85, 6.4.2000, p. 12. Decision as last amended by Decision 2000/664/EC (OJ L 278, 31.10.2000, p. 24).(7) OJ L 309, 9.12.2000, p. 24.(8) OJ L 328, 13.12.2001, p. 4.(9) OJ L 328, 13.12.2001, p. 1.