Decision: control and prevention of waterpipe tobacco products

Conference of the Parties to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Seventh session Delhi, India, 712 November 2016 12 November 2016 DECISION FCTC/COP7(4) Control and prevention of waterpipe tobacco products The Conference of the Parties (COP), Noting the report of the Convention Secretariat on the Control and prevention of waterpipe tobacco products (document FCTC/COP/7/10); Recalling decision FCTC/COP6(10) on the Control and prevention of waterpipe tobacco products; Recognizing the need for fully implementing the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) in relation to all aspects of waterpipe tobacco control; Mindful of the challenges faced by Parties in controlling and regulating waterpipe tobacco use, especially in public places; Aware that Parties need additional technical and political support in controlling waterpipe tobacco use and addressing its related challenges; Concerned about the growing use of flavoured waterpipe tobacco among youth and the increasing influence of the tobacco industry over waterpipe regulation, production and growing use; Stressing the need for intercountry and regional coordination in sharing of experiences and knowledge to prevent and control waterpipe tobacco use; 1. INVITES Parties: (a) to consider the full application of the WHO FCTC articles in all aspects of waterpipe use, including tobacco used in the waterpipes and accessories, as indicated in document FCTC/COP/7/10; (b) to continue to monitor waterpipe tobacco use through national surveillance systems to cover all age groups and all policy aspects in an integrated approach and report findings to the COP through the reporting instrument of the WHO FCTC; FCTC/COP7(4) 2 (c) to comply with Article 5.3 and its Guidelines in relation to waterpipe tobacco policies and control; (d) to consider the inclusion of waterpipe tobacco use in all national awareness campaigns and activities; (e) to strictly include waterpipe use in the ban of tobacco use in public places as per Article 8 of the Convention and its Guidelines; (f) to ban the use of flavourings in waterpipe tobacco products as recommended in partial Guidelines on Articles 9 and 10; (g) to increase regularly taxes applicable on waterpipe tobacco and apply rates and schedules similar to other combustible tobacco products, especially cigarettes; (h) to consider a ban or restriction on the sale and/or trade of waterpipe tobacco products; (i) to promote research on waterpipe-specific culturally relevant interventions to prevent the uptake of waterpipe tobacco smoking, as well as to promote quitting (cessation); the epidemiology of use and acute and chronic health risks; cultural practices and initiation and maintenance of use; the influence of flavourings on initiation, maintenance of use and increasing use; dependence liability with low- nicotine tobacco products; and effective policies using conceptual frameworks such as information technology and communications; 2. REQUESTS the Convention Secretariat: (a) to document and provide to countries evidence-based regulatory experiences and country successful practices in regulating waterpipe use in coordination with the relevant WHO FCTC Knowledge Hub, the World Health Organization (WHO) and other United Nations partners; (b) to establish a data repository and platform for sharing of information and coordination among Parties in this regard; (c) to further strengthen the reporting instrument of the WHO FCTC to comprehensively cover all aspects, including waterpipe tobacco use, trends and policies; (d) to prepare, in coordination with WHO and the engagement of relevant experts, a report to the eighth session of the COP including situation analyses, challenges and recommendations for improving the prevention and control of waterpipe tobacco use. (Fifth plenary meeting, 12 November 2016) = = =