Indonesia closer to ratifying FCTC

Indonesia’s president, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, has agreed to ratify the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), according to a story on en.tempo.co quoting a statement by Health Minister Nafsiah Mboi.

Nafsiah said there was now an understanding between ministries about the importance of ratification, which meant the government had only to formulate several policies that would be implemented after ratification: policies such as that aimed at protecting tobacco farmers and cigarette industry workers.

Nafsiah said the president had supported ratification of the treaty from the beginning, and she denied suggestions that the cigarette industry had lobbied to prevent the president from agreeing to ratification.

In expressing the hope that ratification would proceed without problems, Nafsiah stated her belief that no one would be disadvantaged by it.

“This ratification will instead protect a lot of people’s interests,” she added.