Russia to Join WHO Protocol on Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products

Source from:  The Voice of Russia  12/25/2013

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has ordered that the country sign the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products, adopted by the parties to the World Health Organization's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, the government's press service reported.

Russia joined the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control in 2008. Following the 5th conference of the convention parties, which was held in Seoul on November 12-17, 2012, the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products was opened for signature.

The document is aimed at combating illegal trade in tobacco products through control of the supply chain and international cooperation. It envisages the establishment of national and/or regional systems and a global center that will facilitate information sharing and will help identify tobacco products, their producers and equipment that was used to manufacture them, as well as track down delivery routes.

The document also regulates law enforcement agencies' cooperation intended to prevent the illegal distribution of tobacco products, including counterfeit ones, as well as the use of fake excise stamps and illicit sales of counterfeit tobacco products, the press service said. Enditem