CONFERENCE PROCEEDING
Tobacco regulations and policies in the Eurasian Economic Union
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Russian Public Health Association, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia
Submission date: 2017-04-28
Acceptance date: 2017-05-02
Publication date: 2017-05-25
Corresponding author
Andrei Konstantinovich Demin
Russian Public Health Association, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Angelov per. d.7 k. 4 kv. 363, 125368 Moscow, Russia
Tob. Prev. Cessation 2017;3(May Supplement):114
KEYWORDS
ABSTRACT
Introduction:
To promote WHO FCTC compliance to tobacco regulations and policies of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and it's Member States (Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russian Federation) for public health benefit. To review tobacco challenges, regulations and policies in the EAEU and it's Member States in the light of Member States obligations on WHO FCTC.
Material and Methods:
Scoping review based on search and analysis of available official publications of the EAEU and it's Member States, WHO sources, research papers, media and industry sources.
Results:
The EAEU development and functioning which started in 2015, includes technical regulations on Tobacco Products and tax policy principles. The EAEU is not a party to the WHO FCTC. In the EAEU there is no parliament and public health is not included in the areas of activities of Eurasian Economic Commission. Regulatory impact assessment is concerned mostly with business interests. There are numerous examples of tobacco industry interference, especially in relation to taxation of tobacco products, so that WHO FCTC compliance by the EAEU Member States might be compromised, with subregional, regional and global repercussions.
Conclusions:
Differences between tobacco regulations and policies in the EAEU, EU and other supranational organizations should be further researched in order to promote exchange of best practices in WHO FCTC comprehensive compliance. Implementation of WHO FCTC Article 5.3. and involvement of civil society are among priorities. The practical prospects for the supranational EAEU to become a party to the WHO FCTC should be considered in detail.