"On 27 February 2005, the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) entered into force and became legally binding for the contracting countries, referred to as the Parties to the Convention. Five of the first 40 countries that ratified the Convention are in the African Region. As of 31 December 2014, 43 of the 47 countries in the African Region had ratified or acceded to the WHO FCTC (38 ratifications and five accessions). Parties to the WHO FCTC have the obligation to report periodically to the Conference of the Parties on their progress in implementing the Convention. Parties in the African Region are therefore obliged to submit reports to the Conference of the Parties within the reporting cycles. To date, 34 Parties have submitted at least one report on their progress in implementing the Convention. In 2005, the Fifty-fifth session of the Regional Committee for the African Region reviewed the first report on implementation of the WHO FCTC in the Region and endorsed the proposed actions. The Regional Committee recommended that Member States ratify the WHO FCTC, develop and implement comprehensive tobacco control legislation and adopt national plans of action in accordance with their obligations under the Convention. In 2013, the Sixty-third session of the Regional Committee for the African Region reviewed and endorsed the second report on implementation of the WHO FCTC in the Region. The Regional Committee recommended that countries accelerate implementation of the Convention by prioritizing enforcement of existing laws, allocating adequate resources proportionate to the burden of tobacco and intensifying South-South collaboration. This 10-year report highlights the achievements made in the African Region in implementing the WHO FCTC during the period February 2005 to December 2014."--Page 1

This book contains the guidelines adopted by the Conference of the Parties. These seven guidelines cover a wide range of provisions of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, such as: the protection of public health policies with respect to tobacco control from commercial and other vested interests of the tobacco industry; protection from exposure to tobacco smoke; packaging and labelling of tobacco products; and tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship; and demand reduction measures concerning tobacco dependence and cessation. These guidelines are intended to help Parties to meet their obligations under the respective provisions of the Convention. They reflect the consolidated views of Parties on different aspects of implementation, their experiences and achievements, and the challenges faced. The guidelines also aim to reflect and promote best practices and standards that governments would benefit from in the treaty-implementation process.