WELCOME

The United States through ATF is hosting the International Conference on Illicit Tobacco Trade (ICITT) from July 30 to August 1, 2002, at the United Nations in New York. Two years ago, the 191 member states of the World Health Organization (WHO) launched a negotiation to address "the spectacular rise and spread of tobacco consumption around the world." The negotiation process is called the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). Four negotiation sessions (October 2000, April 2001, November 2001, and March 2002) have been held with the next session scheduled for October 14 through October 25, 2002, in Geneva, Switzerland.

Illicit tobacco trade is one of the issues that is being considered by the FCTC and will be the focus of the ICITT. The ICITT will expand the expertise brought to the FCTC by encouraging States to bring delegates that represent their nations' revenue, customs, and law enforcement departments. Through these experts, the ICITT will develop solid approaches, ideas, recommendations on effective measures or best practices to address illicit tobacco trade.

Email: ICITT@ATF.TREAS.GOV