Juliana Cézar Nunes
Reporter - Agência Brasil

Brasília - The ratification of the Framework Convention on the Control of Tobacco Use was approved yesterday (27) on the Senate floor. The text will now go to the federal government, which is expected to submit it to the United Nations (UN) by November 7. The Convention determines a series of steps to prevent and combat cigarette consumption, as well as limitations on tobacco advertising.

The senators only agreed to vote for ratification after six ministers signed a declaration containing assurances that there will be no ban on tobacco cultivation nor restrictions on policies to assist tobacco planters. The document that will be sent to the UN also affirms that tobacco planters interested in shifting to other crops will be included in the recently created Support Program for the Diversification of Areas of Tobacco Cultivation. Through this program they will receive financial incentives to shift, voluntarily and gradually, to other crops.

The leader of the government in the Senate, Aloizio Mercadante (PT-SP), said that ratification prior to the deadline set by the UN will permit the country to participate in the meeting that will be held in February, 2006, to establish rules of cooperation and funding for the program.

"Brazil was the second to sign this convention and led the negotiations. Effective measures have already been taken for various of the planned items. Among them, the creation of taxes to raise costs, the prohibition on smoking in enclosed areas, the control of the content of cigarette packs, the prohibition on advertising, and the identification of the damages caused by smoking," Mercante pointed out. "Now we have to make progress in combatting the black market for cigarettes, prohibiting sales to minors, and encouraging alternatives for tobacco producers."

The convention was signed by 168 of the 192 countries that participating in the treaty negotiations. The Framework Convention took effect on February 27, 2005, after ratification by 40 countries. Through June of 2005, 72 countries had formalized their ratification of the agreement.

Translation: David Silberstein