World No Tobacco Day 2016 observed across the world

The World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) 2016 was observed globally on 31 May 2016.

To mark this occasion, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Secretariat of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control called countries to get ready for plain packaging of tobacco products.

Every year, on 31 May, the WHO and its partners in close collaboration with the governmental and non governmental agencies organize events, workshops, seminars to raise awareness about the ill effects of tobacco processing, trade and usage among the masses and the policy makers.

Goals of WNTD 2016 campaign
• Highlight the role of plain packaging as part of a comprehensive, multisectoral approach to tobacco control.
• Facilitate policy development by Member States and the globalization of plain packaging by providing informative, compelling and persuasive information.
• Encourage Member States to strengthen packaging and labelling measures and restrictions on advertising, promotion and sponsorship as they work towards plain packaging in a step-wise approach.
• Support Member States and civil society against tobacco industry interference in political processes leading to adoption of plain packaging laws.

Facts related to plain packaging
• In December 2012, Australia became the first country to fully implement plain packaging.
• In 2015, Ireland, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and France all passed laws to implement plain packaging from May 2016.
Background
• On 15 May 1987, the WHO passed a resolution, calling for 7 April 1988, to be the first WNTD.
• The date was chosen because it was the 40th anniversary of the WHO.
• However, on 17 May 1989, the WHO passed another resolution calling for 31 May to be annually known as WNTD. Thus, this event has been observed each year since 1989.