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WHO representative plays up importance of anti-tobacco law

The adoption of an anti-tobacco law by Belarus would make it possible to reduce the number of smoking-related illnesses and deaths, Kristina Mauer-Stender, a representative of the World Health Organization (WHO), said at a conference in Minsk on October 3.

The adoption of such a law would be very important to a country where smokers account for a third of the population, according to the expert. It would also allow Belarus to fulfill its obligations under the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, she said.

The convention provides for measures to make cigarettes less affordable, ban smoking in public places and cigarette advertising, place health warnings on cigarette packs, and raise the public's awareness of the dangers of smoking.

Belarus may adopt the law in 2014. Its draft is available on the health ministry's website.

Smoking is said to cause 15,500 deaths in Belarus annually. //BelaPAN