Cancer Society National Office - Plans and Frameworks

Clearing the Smoke: A five-year plan for tobacco control in New Zealand (2004–2009)

This is the Ministry of Health’s five-year strategic plan for tobacco control. The plan is available online.

National Maori Tobacco Control Strategy (2003-2007) and Action Plans

This strategy and action plans were developed and coordinated by the Maori Smokefree Coalition (Te Reo Marama). The Strategy and Action Plans are available online and hard copies can be obtained from Shane Bradbrook, Director of Te Reo Marama.

Pacific Peoples Tobacco Control Action Plan

This document is the first step toward developing a strategic plan for Pacific People’s tobacco control. The plan was developed by the Pacific Tobacco Control Interim Group. The Plan is available online.

Reducing Smoking Initiation Framework

The Framework is based on evidence from the Reducing Smoking Initiation Literature Review and informed by key stakeholders within the tobacco control and related areas in New Zealand. The Framework proposes a comprehensive suite of interventions and initiatives to reduce smoking initiation. The Reducing Smoking Initiation Literature Review and Framework are both available online.

Cancer Control Strategy and Action Plan

The New Zealand Cancer Control Strategy is the first phase in the development and implementation of a comprehensive and co-ordinated programme to control cancer in New Zealand. The strategy includes purposes, principles and goals to guide existing and future actions to control cancer. It also includes objectives and broad areas for action. The Strategy is available online. The New Zealand Cancer Control Strategy Action Plan outlines in detail how the Strategy’s objectives can be achieved. The Action Plan is also available online.

National Drug Policy

The National Drug Policy 2007–2012 builds on the first National Drug Policy 1998–2003. It sets out the Government’s policy for tobacco, alcohol, illegal and other drugs within a single framework. It does this by establishing the goals, objectives and principles that will guide drug policy and intersectoral decisionmaking about the best way to address the harms caused by drug use, and identifies the population groups that require special attention. The key goal of the National Drug Policy is to minimise the social, economic and health harms of tobacco, alcohol and other drugs.

INTERNATIONAL

Framework Convention on Tobacco Control

The Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) is a legally binding treaty which was negotiated by the 192 member states of the World Health Organization (WHO). The world's first public health treaty, the FCTC contains a host of measures designed to reduce the devastating health and economic impacts of tobacco. The final agreement, reached in May 2003 after nearly four years of negotiations, provides the basic tools for countries to enact comprehensive tobacco control legislation.

Key provisions in the treaty encourage countries to

Enact comprehensive bans on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship;
Obligate the placement of rotating health warnings on tobacco packaging that cover at least 30 percent (but ideally 50 percent or more) of the principal display areas and can include pictures or pictograms;
Ban the use of misleading and deceptive terms such as "light" and "mild";
Protect citizens from exposure to tobacco smoke in workplaces, public transport and indoor public places;
Combat smuggling, including the placing of final destination markings on packs; and
Increase tobacco taxes

The FCTC also contains numerous other measures designed to promote and protect public health, such as mandating the disclosure of ingredients in tobacco products, providing treatment for tobacco addiction, encouraging legal action against the tobacco industry, and promoting research and the exchange of information among countries. New Zealand became a signatory to the convention on the 16th June 2003 and ratified the Treaty on the 27th January 2004 with the following territorial exclusion:

"... consistent with the constitutional status of Tokelau and taking into account the commitment of the Government of New Zealand to the development of self-government for Tokelau through an act of self-determination under the Charter of the United Nations, this ratification shall not extend to Tokelau unless and until a Declaration to this effect is lodged by the Government of New Zealand with the Depositary on the basis of appropriate consultation with that territory."

Further information on the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control is available from the following websites: