THE ROLE OF INTERNATIONAL LAW WITHIN NATIONAL LEGISLATION ON TOBACCO CONTROL

Abstract

The present article, taking into account advances in international rights and the need for domestic implementation of Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) standards, has the objective of analyzing the competence to bring domestic and international regulations to fruition, with the purpose of creating coordinated public policies for tobacco control. So, it is possible to argue that the FCTC, by means of its guidelines, laid down at the Conferences of the Parties (COPs) and which are binding to all members states of the convention, paves the way for international regulation. Domestically, such regulation has to observe DOP guidelines, there being leeway for organizations like Brazil’s ANVISA to bring those guidelines into action, such as the one related to FTCT articles 9 and 10, which limit the use of flavour additives in tobacco products, as a way of implementing international standards within the country. There is also no conflict between free enterprise and tobacco control given that, as stated by the Constitutional Court of Colombia in a process involving the constitutionality of restrictions to tobacco advertising, this is a market that should not be stimulated, but rather merely tolerated.