18 February 2014

27 states launch Global Health Security Agenda to prevent and contain infectious diseases

Twenty-seven states, the World Health Organization (WHO), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), have launched an effort to improve the ability to prevent, detect, respond to and contain outbreaks of dangerous infectious diseases.

The Global Health Security Agenda aims to prevent avoidable epidemics by, for instance, keeping to a minimum the number of labs worldwide that store dangerous microbes and by extending vaccination programs. Another goal is to detect threats early, such as by promoting faster sharing of biological samples. (more…)

Source: CBS News | U.S. announces global partnership to fight infectious diseases
Source: Infection Control Today | Nations Commit to Accelerating Progress Against Infectious Disease Threats

15 November 2012

Adopted Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products calls for cooperation

On 12 November 2012, the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products was adopted under the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). This Protocol supplements the WHO FCTC with the aim to effectively counter the illicit trade in tobacco products and its grave consequences for public health and well-being. The Protocol contains obligations to cooperate, for instance the obligations under Article 4(1) paragraphs (a)(c-f), and under Part V on international cooperation (Articles 20-31). The Articles under Part V concern amongst others information sharing (Articles 20-21), assistance and cooperation in investigation and prosecution of offences (Article 24), law enforcement cooperation (Article 27), mutual administrative assistance (Article 28) and mutual legal assistance (Article 29).

Source: Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products | FCTC/COP5(1)