ATF to Host International Conference on Illicit Tobacco Trade at the United Nations

Washington, DC - Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) Director Bradley A. Buckles announced today that ATF will host the International Conference on Illicit Tobacco Trade (ICITT) from July 30 through August 1, 2002, at the United Nations in New York. The ICITT will bring together representatives from the law enforcement and revenue offices of 191 Member States of the World Health Organization to discuss and identify best practices to address illicit tobacco trade around the globe. The ICITT will advance the international negotiations of the WHO’s proposed Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), a new international legal instrument that could address issues as diverse as tobacco advertising and promotion, agricultural diversification, illicit trade, taxes and subsidies.

During the three-day event, WHO Member State representatives will participate in panel discussions and working groups to identify best practices concerning tobacco licensing, record keeping, border controls, contraband and counterfeit cigarettes, and cigarette labeling, tracking, and tracing.

“World governments lose approximately $16 billion in tax revenue to contraband cigarette traffickers each year, money that would otherwise fund healthcare and other government services and programs. We expect our conference will move international law enforcement closer to standard guidelines that will deny criminals easy profits, and, in turn, also provide a benefit to public health,” said Buckles.

The FCTC stems from a May 1999 resolution of the World Health Assembly, governing body of the WHO, which paved the way for multilateral negotiations to begin on a set of rules and regulations that will govern the global rise and spread of tobacco products in the 21st century. The FCTC committee will reconvene in October 2002, when it will consider, among other things, the suggestions for best practices coming out of the ICITT.