WHO meetings signal critical period for global industry

"I wouldn't say there's anything ominous in the exclusion of non-participating parties," said Spinks, who has been coordinating the industry campaign along with IAADFS and Washington lobbyist Jon Kent. "It could mean that they just want to clarify the issues before addressing the public," said Spinks.

Campaigners insist that much more can be done among regional and national associations, as well as by individual companies, to address the issue with their governments. In many countries, tobacco is seen as an easy target and support for duty-free tobacco from across the industry is urgently needed.

A recent boost for the industry came with the conclusion of the WHO inter-sessional talks, held in each of the six WHO regions earlier this month. The only region to produce a prescriptive statement supporting the duty-free ban was the Association of South East Asian Nations, which suggested "phasing out" duty-free tobacco sales.

The debate over the tobacco issue has been raging since early 2000. But the FCTC treaty requires consensus among signatories before it is ratified, and such consensus is "highly unlikely", ITRC has said. If consensus is not reached at the current negotiations, the issue is likely to be put back until October or November this year. Talks are scheduled for conclusion next year, when the FCTC is to be ratified.