New tobacco text upholds ban proposal

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The latest version of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) text , published Wednesday, shows the World Health Organization's (WHO) continued support for a ban on duty-free tobacco sales

Article Six of the treaty remains unchanged, that delegates consider "progressively restricting, with a view to prohibiting duty-free sales of tobacco products".

In his accompanying letter, FCTC chair Ambassador Sexas de Correa said that "due to polarized opinion on the clause, I thought it best to maintain the text's original language."

The proposal to ban open sales was also upheld within the new text, which will form the basis for discussion in the last round of talks in Geneva next month. However, clauses suggesting that existing treaties take precedence over the FCTC have been removed, as Correa suggested that the Vienna Convention on Treaties already makes this point adequately.

Said International Travel Retail Confederation director general Keith Spinks: "We will be contacting all our industry colleagues, stressing the need to maintain contact with governments, to continue to seek their support to oppose this or any alternative text restricting or prohibiting duty free tobacco sales."