The World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) is a legally binding treaty that requires Parties to implement effective measures to prevent and reduce tobacco consumption, nicotine addiction, and exposure to tobacco smoke. When effectively implemented, the WHO FCTC is a powerful tool to reduce the devastating global consequences of tobacco products on health, lives, economies, and environments.
The WHO FCTC entered into force on February 27, 2025, and is one of the most widely adopted treaties in the United Nations system. There are 183 Parties to the WHO FCTC as of November 2025.
Required Actions to Reduce Tobacco Use and Exposure to Tobacco Smoke
The WHO FCTC provides a broad framework of obligations and rights for Parties to implement various tobacco control measures.
Parties to the WHO FCTC have adopted eight Guidelines for implementation to provide for effective implementation of the treaty. The Guidelines for implementation contain principles, definitions, and key legislative elements that the Parties adopted by consensus to assist them in meeting their WHO FCTC legal obligations. The WHO FCTC and its Guidelines for implementation commit Parties to:
- Protect their public health measures from the commercial and other vested interests of the tobacco industry.
- Protect all people from tobacco smoke exposure in all indoor public places, indoor workplaces, on all means of public transport, and, as appropriate, other places.
- Ban or restrict all forms of tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship.
- Place large pictorial health warnings on tobacco product packaging and prohibit the use of false or misleading labeling and packaging that may imply that one tobacco product is less harmful than another.
- Consider price and tax measures to reduce the demand for tobacco, which may include prohibiting or restricting sales to or importations of duty-free tobacco products.
- Eliminate the illicit trade of tobacco products.
- Regulate the content of tobacco products and require disclosure of ingredients.
- Provide cessation assistance and treatment for tobacco dependence.
- Provide for education, communication, training and public awareness measures about the harms of tobacco products and the tactics used by the tobacco industry to undermine the public health.
- Consider taking action to deal with criminal and civil liability related to tobacco harms, including compensation where appropriate.
- Take other action aimed at reducing tobacco use and exposure to tobacco smoke.
Progress in Protecting Public Health
- Since 2005, at least 79 countries have enacted or implemented comprehensive smoke-free legislation across the globe, including all subnational jurisdictions in Australia and Canada.
- As of 2020, every country in South America has passed comprehensive smoke-free legislation.
- Since 2005, at least 110 countries and jurisdictions have enacted or implemented pictorial warning labels that cover at least 50% of tobacco packaging.
- Since 2005, at least 68 countries have passed comprehensive tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship bans.
Role of Civil Society
The WHO FCTC recognizes that the participation of civil society is essential to achieve the objective of the WHO FCTC and its Guidelines for implementation and to counter tobacco industry efforts to stop, delay, or dilute effective tobacco control measures. Drawing members from more than 70 countries, the Global Alliance for Tobacco Control (GATC) plays a key role in educating policymakers and strengthening cooperation across borders. The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids supports governments and civil society partners in low- and middle-income countries to adopt strong WHO FCTC-based measures.
Last updated November 4, 2025