Ash Wales Communicate, Collaborate, Celebrate; Conference 2010

Plenary Speakers

Mr. Luk JoossensAdvocacy officer - Association of European Cancer Leagues

Abstract Title: Understanding tobacco smuggling

The illicit tobacco trade results in huge losses of revenue to governments, estimated at $US40 billion in 2007, and in increased consumption and thus health problems because it makes tobacco available more cheaply.

The presentation will discuss the different types of illicit trade and how they should be successfully tackled.

In February 2008 negotiations started on a protocol to the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), to prevent illicit trade in tobacco products. Article 15 of the FCTC states that the convention should deal with all forms of illicit trade in tobacco products, including smuggling, illicit manufacturing and counterfeiting.

Author Biography:

Actual position: Advocacy Officer, European Cancer Leagues and Tobacco Control Expert, Belgian Foundation against Cancer, International expert on illicit tobacco trade, Framework Convention Alliance.

Experience: Belgian Consumer Association (1973-75), Centre for research and Information of the (Belgian) Consumer organisations (1976-2003), Director of the European Bureau for Action on Smoking Prevention (BASP: 1998-1995), Temporary advisor to the World Health Organization on the issue of tobacco smuggling (1996-2003) and Belgian Foundation against Cancer (2003-). He is the author of more than 400 articles, reports and presentations on the different aspects of the smoking prevention policy, such as smoking prevalence studies, smoking cessation, passive smoking, advertising, labelling, taxes, smuggling, tobacco industry tactics, EU policy. In 1991, he received the WHO Commemorative Award, in 2004, an Honorary Gold Award of the Polish Health Promotion Foundation and in July 2006, he received the Luther Terry Award for Outstanding Individual Leadership in tobacco control.