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Tob Control: first published as 10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2019-055537 on 18 December 2019. Downloaded from News analysis citizens signed a petition in support of advertising at point of sale continues to Worldwide news keeping the law. be a significant issue. Pricing and taxation In March, 2018, the Austrian Parlia- also need to be addressed, as cigarettes and comment ment sided with the FPÖ and voted to remain affordable. Measures to enforce overturn the smoking ban. FCTC including transparency around Little more than a year later, the govern- government interactions with the tobacco AUSTRIA: SMOKE FREE PUBLIC SPACES ment collapsed because of a corruption industry need to be put in place. FINALLY IN FORCE scandal involving the leadership of the Now is a potential turning point for In November 2019, Austria finally took FPÖ. The Austrian Parliament then passed Austria to catch up to the rest of the steps towards basic minimum standards new legislation reinstating the total ban on world and end its status as a rogue nation for tobacco control, with the implementa- smoking in enclosed public places. in tobacco control. If the FPÖ does not tion of a comprehensive smoke- free policy Austria’s tobacco control failure has return to power, and if other political covering bars and restaurants. been an anomaly in a country where the parties resist tobacco industry lobbying, The move to smoke- free public spaces is high quality of life is partially attribut- the country has the chance to finally well overdue in the country, where polit- able to government support and interven- implement a genuinely comprehensive ical intransigence has resulted in it long tion in areas such as subsidised housing, smoke- free law and appropriate youth being known as the ashtray of Europe. public transport, environmental protec- protection. It has consistently lagged behind other tion, social welfare and health support. Manfred Neuberger European countries – and much of the The capital Vienna has repeatedly been Kurt Aigner world – in protecting its citizens from voted the most livable city in the world, Medical University of Vienna tobacco, with predictable results. From according to an annual index compiled Austrian Council on Smoking and Health 2000–2018, Austria was one of only three by the Economist Intelligence Unit. Vien- manfred. neuberger@ meduniwien. ac. at OECD countries that failed to reduce nese tap water is legendary for its taste smoking prevalence. Since Austria rati- and purity due to strict quality controls. WORLD: ILO FINALLY ENDS TOBACCO fied the WHO Framework Convention Austria has one of the lowest maternal on Tobacco Control (FCTC) in 2005, mortality rates in the world, in part attrib- INDUSTRY FUNDING there has been only a small decline in utable to measures which link qualifying At the end of October, the Governing male smoking prevalence, while female for sizeable child benefits to completion Body of the International Labour Orga- smoking prevalence has increased. Twenty of a doctor-verified series of maternal nization (ILO) endorsed its new inte- health exams. The only exception to this grated strategy for the tobacco sector. The four percent of Austrians aged 15 years copyright. and older smoke, and the prevalence of ‘nanny state’ was smoking. Tobacco was decision ends ILO’s involvement in over youth smoking and non-smoker exposure first a state monopoly, and later defended a decade of tobacco industry corporate to tobacco smoke pollution are among the as a supposed symbol of freedom by the social responsibility schemes that have highest in Europe. tobacco industry, supported by its allies failed to address the systemic exploitation Until 2019, smoking was permitted in the chamber of commerce and others of tobacco growers and farm workers. in small bars and restaurants (<50 m²) who framed nicotine dependence as ‘free Expired contracts binding the ILO to and smoking rooms in larger hospitality choice’. Japan Tobacco International and the Ending Child Labour in Tobacco (ECLT) venues. Smoke free rooms in venues with Vienna has now started to enforce imple- http://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/ smoking rooms were often inadequately mentation of the smoking ban. During the Foundation were not renewed. protected from tobacco smoke, and first 24 days of November, food inspec- By cutting financial ties with tobacco hospitality staff continued to be exposed tors visited 2366 hospitality venues and companies the ILO ends its dependency to tobacco smoke in the workplace. The reported 40 venues for allowing smoking on an industry that exploits weak labour first legislation mandating a complete ban and 13 because of missing no-smoking protections, amasses huge profits and on smoking in indoor public places was signs. leaves tobacco growers trapped in poverty. passed in 2015, but only scheduled to The age limit for buying cigarettes in all Its new integrated strategy sector goes take effect 3 years later in 2018. However, Austrian provinces was increased recently beyond child labour to address its root after the 2017 Austrian general election, from 16 to 18 years and some counties causes. To be funded by contributions from the conservative Austrian People’s Party started mystery shopping to improve bi- lateral or multi-lateral development (ÖVP) formed a coalition government age control. Data from the most recent funders, the strategy is a breakthrough on September 26, 2021 by guest. Protected with the right-wing nationalist Freedom (2018) Health Behaviour in School- Aged that empowers the ILO to strengthen Party of Austria (FP). The FPÖ made their Children survey shows the first promising protections for tobacco workers across the support conditional on the withdrawal of indications of youth smoking prevalence board and break the cycle that locks them the 2015 legislation, despite strong public decline, although some schools which in poverty. While the strategy is global backing for the smoke- free law. In a 2018 previously had high smoking prevalence in scope, its implementation will initially representative survey, 70% of Austrians (eg, vocational schools) were excluded focus on Malawi, Tanzania, Uganda and agreed with fully smoke-free hospitality due to low participation rates. Zambia, to ensure the continuity of ILO’s venues, and almost 900 000 Austrian While this is encouraging, continued work in these countries. strong action is needed to make mean- Building on recent efforts to reduce ingful progress to reduce both youth tobacco industry influence within the smoking and overall smoking preva- United Nations system, the ILO strategy All articles written by Marita Hefler lence. Internet sales continue to be a reaffirms the UN Economic and Social unless otherwise attributed. Ideas and problem, and vending machines allow Council (ECOSOC) Model Policy for UN items for News Analysis should be sent minors to purchase cigarettes with other Agencies and FCTC Article 5.3. It also to: [email protected] people’s bank cards. Exposure to tobacco builds on the momentum to implement Tob Control January 2020 Vol 29 No 1 3 Tob Control: first published as 10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2019-055537 on 18 December 2019. Downloaded from News analysis FCTC Article 17 on promoting alterna- and the kind that compromise the organ- https:// blogs. bmj. com/ tc/ 2019/ 12/ 01/ tive livelihoods for tobacco farmers and isation’s independence and effectiveness. world- international- labour- organiza- workers. The international tobacco control tion- ilo- ends- tobacco- industry- funding/. The decision on protecting public and health community need to follow Contributing authors: Leonce Dieudonné health policies from the vested interest of through and build on the lessons learnt. Sessou, Fastone Goma, Lutgard Kokulinda the tobacco industry (Decision 18) of the It is important to strengthen alliances with Kagaruki, Marty Otanez and Hellen Eighth session of the Conference of the workers’ groups, supporting their efforts Neima. Parties to the FCTC (COP8) encouraged to protect and empower tobacco growers, Alice Grainger Gasser the involvement of FCTC States Parties, as well as support alternative livelihoods, Independent Consultant, Switzerland the FCTC Secretariat and COP observers while promoting fair living earnings for alice. ggasser@ gmail. com in the ILO decision making process. tobacco farmers and farm workers and The Governing Body decision reinforces fair tobacco leaf prices. Tobacco taxation the ILO’s capacity to act as an indepen- should be promoted to garner domestic AUSTRALIA: FURTHER dent moderator of the dialogue between funding for activities to ensure decent IMPLEMENTATION OF FCTC 5.3 governments, employers and workers. work for tobacco workers. Civil society GUIDELINES It also sends a clear signal to tobacco can also facilitate dialogue between Minis- In November 2019, the Australian companies that they must address the root tries of Health and Ministries of Labour, government released guidelines on inter- causes of poor working conditions among building on the access that we have devel- actions with the tobacco industry, in line tobacco growers by closing the wage gaps oped with labour officials and activists in with FCTC Article 5.3 requirements for in their supply chains, upholding workers’ other sectors. The implementation of the governments to protect public health poli- right to organise and keeping labour new ILO strategy will need to be followed cies from commercial and other vested contracts transparent. closely, engaging in the dialogue it interests of the tobacco industry. There are several important lessons to develops to keep prevention against health The new guidelines are designed to be learnt from the process for the ILO to hazards high on the agenda. Finally, it is expand Australia’s obligations to include end tobacco industry funding. Alongside vital to keep monitoring tobacco industry new and emerging products, such as e- representatives of governments, the ILO’s interference and engage withother sectors cigarettes and heated tobacco products, unique tripartite structure gives a voice to raise awareness of its implications for in response to the increasing integration in its governance to representatives of their work.