ONE OF the most important summits for the future health of millions of people around the globe kicks off on Monday (November 8).
Decisions made at the meeting of international delegations will affect cancer rates and influence public health policy in scores of developing and developed countries. But this isn’t the COP26, you won’t have heard of it and it will not make headlines.
The event is the COP9 ‑ and it is where countries’ Governments, aided by the World Health Organisation, make secretive decisions regarding tobacco and smoking.
No journalists are allowed to observe, nor members of the public. British charities have even been turned away. Only Governments, all of whom take in vast tax revenues from cigarette sales, can attend.
In some cases ‑ such as China ‑ these Governments own the entire cigarette industry in their country.
This has created some perverse incentives where countries that set the rules around smoking are the ones who benefit the most from it.
Mark Oates – Express – 2021-11-07
Want More Investigative Content?
