The impact of the EU accession on Croatia Public health policies on tobacco

Marta Čivljak, MD, PHDResearch Fellow

Department of Medical Sociology and Health Economics, Andrija Štampar School of Public Health

Tobacco smoking: global public health problem

There are 1.3 billion smokers worldwide

Every day over 13,000 people die from tobacco-related

diseases

If current trends continue, by 2025 tobacco will

contribute to the death of 10 million people worldwide

each year

ESPAD 2007. (European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs)

38% girls and boys are smokers

GYTS 2007. (Global Youth Tobacco Survey) 24.8% currently smoke cigarettes (Boys = 22.4%, Girls =

25.8%) 9.3% currently are daily cigarette smokers (Boys = 8.4%,

Girls = 9.2%)

9/10 (92.2%) live in homes where others smoke in their presence

HZA 2003 (Croatian Health Survey)

34% male and 22% female smokers

Tobacco smoking: public health problem in Croatia

Interventions and programs for smoking cessation in Croatia (1990-2010)

National public health interventions

International programs for smoking cessation

National tobacco control policies

National public health interventions

Interventions Importance

Long-term effectiveness

Self-help materials   + - 

School based educational programs   + -

Program “Say YES to no smoking”   ++ ++ 

Interventions for smoking cessation in dental setting   + - 

International programs for smoking cessation

Interventions Importance

Long-term effectiveness

World No Tobacco Day   + - 

“Quit and Win” contest for smoking cessation   + + 

WHO Framework convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC)   ++ ++ 

National tobacco control policies

This legislation provides measures determined to improve public health :

- measures to reduce exposure to tobacco smoke and demand on tobacco

- product control and consumer information (regulates the levels of tar nicotine and carbon monoxide in cigarettes / health warnings)

- Education, communication, training and public awareness - supervision of law enforcement

Laws restricting the use of tobacco products in Croatia

Tobacco control policy, 1999 (Zakon o ograničavanju uporabe duhanskih proizZvoda. NN 1999;(128):4469-73.)

Tobacco control policy 2008 (Zakon o ograničavanju uporabe duhanskih proizvoda. NN 2008;(125):2-6.)

Corrections of Tobacco control policy, 2009 (Ispravak Zakona o ograničavanju uporabe duhanskih proizvoda. NN 2009;(55):63).

WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC)

is the first treaty negotiated under the auspices of the WHO.

was developed in response to the globalization of the tobacco epidemic

it presents an evidence-based treaty that reaffirms the right of all people to the highest standard of health

was adopted by the World Health Assembly on 21 May 2003 and entered into force on 27 February 2005.

with 168 signatories has become one of the most widely

embraced treaties in UN history

The core demand reduction provisions in the WHO FCTC (contained in articles 6-14)

• Price and tax measures to reduce the demand for tobacco, and

Non-price measures to reduce the demand for tobacco, namely:

Protection from exposure to tobacco smoke; Regulation of the contents of tobacco products; Regulation of tobacco product disclosures; Packaging and labeling of tobacco products; Education, communication, training and public

awareness; Tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship; and, Demand reduction measures concerning tobacco

dependence and cessation

The core supply reduction provisions in the

WHO FCTC (contained in articles 15-17)

Illicit trade in tobacco products;

Sales to and by minors;

Provision of support for economically viable alternative activities

Tobacco control in Croatia today Croatia was among the first countries that have signed

the Convention (June 2, 2003).

Has ratified the treaty on 14th July 2008.

Ratification of the treaty influenced most of all non-price measures to reduce the demand for tobacco

Conclusion

Croatia must continue to work intensively on the following measures for tobacco control:

Price and tax measures to reduce the demand for tobacco (the most effective measures to reduce smoking prevalence in the population)

Supply reduction measures Enforcement of the law on complete ban on

smoking in public places