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Malawai declines to ratify WHO’s framework convention

Malawi’s agricultural minister, Gwanda Chakuamba, says his country will not ratify the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). Tobacco accounts for the lion’s share of Malawi’s foreign currency earnings.

“Tobacco is running the country’s economy and Malawi will not ratify the convention,” he said. “We know that the convention will reduce production of the crop in many countries in the West … we aim to take this as a chance because production will shift to the African region.”

In late February, the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control became international law. At press time, 58 countries had ratified the treaty and agreed to enforce its provisions.