Ministry of Health & Family Welfare is organizing the Seventh Session of the Conference of Parties (COP7) under WHO FCTC from November 7 to 12 in Noida this year.
In the light of upcoming international negotiations, Indian government seems to be keeping the tobacco industry at bay in policy discussions.
Ministry of Health & Family Welfare is organizing the Seventh Session of the Conference of Parties (COP7) under WHO FCTC from November 7 to 12 in Noida this year.
The central government claims that organisations such as The Federation of All India Farmers Associations (FAIFA), and Tobacco Institute of India (TII) have not been allowed to take part in the upcoming World Health Organisation Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC), Conference of the Parties (COP) in November this year.
Ministry of Health & Family Welfare is organizing the Seventh Session of the Conference of Parties (COP7) under WHO FCTC from November 7 to 12 in Noida this year. It is expected that the conference will be attended by delegates from over 180 countries along with other observers in official relations with the WHO FCTC Secretariat, Geneva (approximately 1000—1500 delegates).
While TII has sent an application to the Union Health Ministry regarding its participation, FAIFA filed a plea before the Delhi High Court praying for participation in the deliberation of COP7.
The High Court on October 19, 2016, said to the petitioner to file a request or application to the government for participation in COP7, as delegate. Interestingly enough, the application of FAIFA for ‘observer status’ has already been rejected by Secretariat WHO FCTC.
“We have been trying to convince the Union Health Ministry for past six months for letting us participate in the conference, but nobody is paying heed. We also want to discuss problems of the tobacco farmers with the authorities,” said Vikram Raj Urs, FAIFA Joint Secretary. “We will try to participate in the conference till the last day. We will also be present at the venue.”
This conference that takes place every year has an important role to play in the running of WHO FCTC and the projects that it takes across the globe. COP is the Governing Body of the WHO FCTC and is comprised of all Parties to the Convention. The convention reviews the effect of the past protocols that were implemented.
It also comes up with proposals for new protocols and amendments to existing rules. The body present at COP7 will also be the decision making body of future plans and rules as well as promotions for the same.
CK Mishra, Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said, “The tobacco industry has made several pleas to the government, but India does not have any power to grant their plea. India is only the host country. All the decisions of inviting delegates or observers lies with the WHO FCTC. And they have already refused the proposal.”
The industry has again submitted their request to the concerned body following a court order stating that they need to address the issues of the tobacco farmers.
When asked about this, Mishra said that they have started working on it adding, “The Ministry of Agriculture has taken note of the issues, and they are taking necessary steps to solve the problems.”
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