ASH anger at anti-smoking treaty delay
27/02/2005 - 11:06:00Anti-smoking group ASH said today it is disappointed Ireland has not ratified the new global anti-tobacco treaty in time for its coming into effect today.
The agreement between 168 countries in the World Health Organisation lays out plans to ban advertising and sponsorship by tobacco companies within five years, as well as publishing new, stronger health warnings.
Ireland, despite having introducing the workplace smoking ban in March last year, is one of 111 countries in the WHO that has not yet ratified the treaty – 50 have ratified including Britain, Canada India and Australia.
Campaigners around the world claim that the tobacco industry has been trying to delay the treaty's implementation.
