Uruguay becomes second Party to the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products

The Convention Secretariat congratulates Uruguay on becoming the second Party to the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products. The first protocol to the WHO FCTC was adopted on 12 November 2012 at the fifth session of the Conference of the Parties in Seoul, Republic of Korea.

In accordance with its Article 43, the Protocol was open for signature by all Parties to the WHO FCTC from 10 January 2013 until 9 January 2014. When it was closed for signature, the Protocol had been signed by 53 States and the European Union.

The Protocol aims at eliminating all forms of illicit trade in tobacco products. It provides tools for preventing and counteracting illicit trade, including a licence for the manufacture, import and export of tobacco products and manufacturing equipment and a tracking and tracing system for all tobacco products that are manufactured in or imported onto its territory.

The Protocol is now open for ratification, acceptance, approval, formal confirmation or accession by all WHO FCTC Parties. It will enter into force upon ratification by 40 Parties. The first country in the world to ratify the Protocol was Nicaragua on 20 December 2013.