Tobacco growers speak out against WHO
Diario Libre
SANTO DOMINGO. The International Association of Tobacco Growers, which represents more than 30 million growers around the world, launched sharp criticisms against the World Health Organization (WHO), accusing it of being out of contact with reality and completely ignoring the requests of the tobacco growers in some of the most vulnerable areas of the world.
The entity's anger is due to the decision by the WHO to present final guidelines to be adopted by the 171 member countries of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) in a meeting that will take place in Uruguay in November. The WHO has also refused a petition by the ITGA to attend this meeting.
The guideline for articles 9 and 10 of the FCTC will prohibit the use of ingredients different from tobacco in cigarette production. These ingredients are necessary in the manufacture of mixed tobacco products, composed mainly of Burley and Oriental tobaccos. These make up more than half of all the cigarettes consumed in the world. Without them, the Burley growers (including the Dominican growers) and Oriental growers will see the demand for their crops disappear.
The recommendations for other articles are aimed at providing alternative crops for tobacco farmers, but they do not present options that are economically viable for the growers. The proposal runs the risk of decimating the farmer's sustenance, condemning millions to a life of poverty and mutilating the economy of many countries.
The entity's anger is due to the decision by the WHO to present final guidelines to be adopted by the 171 member countries of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) in a meeting that will take place in Uruguay in November. The WHO has also refused a petition by the ITGA to attend this meeting.
The guideline for articles 9 and 10 of the FCTC will prohibit the use of ingredients different from tobacco in cigarette production. These ingredients are necessary in the manufacture of mixed tobacco products, composed mainly of Burley and Oriental tobaccos. These make up more than half of all the cigarettes consumed in the world. Without them, the Burley growers (including the Dominican growers) and Oriental growers will see the demand for their crops disappear.
The recommendations for other articles are aimed at providing alternative crops for tobacco farmers, but they do not present options that are economically viable for the growers. The proposal runs the risk of decimating the farmer's sustenance, condemning millions to a life of poverty and mutilating the economy of many countries.
Diario Libre
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