Delegates from over 180 countries are gathered in Panama City to start the 10th conference of the Parties to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.
The Convention’s parties seek to enhance and advance tobacco control.
Over the years, the conferences have resulted in wide tobacco control initiatives, including measures to stem or regulate tobacco advertising and promotion, packaging and labeling, tobacco taxation, and tobacco product regulation.
The gathering is expected to primarily focus on cigarettes, smokeless, mass-market cigars, and electronic nicotine delivery systems, the event’s intent – to regulate or ban tobacco – holds implications for the premium cigar industry.
Representatives from the premium cigar industry’s Cigar Rights of America are attending the conference, although only state actors are allowed to be part of the event.
“As the world watches the proceedings… CRA wants to assure our members that we will continue to fight for the interests of premium cigars and push back against any one-size-fits-all policy measures that don’t respect the uniqueness of premium cigars,” the group said in a press release.
