Geneva pact strengthens enforcement, licensing rules
New Protocol measures bolster global tobacco control
Geneva: Global powers have united to clamp down on the illicit tobacco trade, issuing a strong call for coordinated action and enforcement. In Geneva on 26 November 2025, the Fourth session of the Meeting of the Parties (MOP) to the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products concluded with a decisive focus on enhancing international cooperation, closing gaps in supply chains, and strengthening measures to curb a trade that undermines public health, drains government revenues, and fuels organised crime.
Representatives from 60 Parties convened from 24 to 26 November to deliberate on licensing frameworks, mobilisation of financial and technical resources, and cross-border enforcement. The Protocol, adopted under the World Health Organization (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) in 2012, was developed in response to a growing illicit tobacco market, estimated to account for around 11% of global tobacco consumption, with potential tax revenue losses of US$47.4 billion annually if left unchecked.
At the session, Andrew Black, Acting Head of the Secretariat of the WHO FCTC, underscored the stakes: “Illicit trade in tobacco robs governments of vital resources, undermines public health, and fuels corruption, money laundering, and organised crime. We cannot allow those who profit from this trade to escape justice.”
The MOP adopted several key decisions to strengthen enforcement and cooperation:
- The Convention Secretariat, in collaboration with the World Customs Organization (WCO) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), will map existing seizures of tobacco, tobacco products, and manufacturing equipment, creating a data-driven foundation for enforcement and policy decisions.
- A working group on evidence-based research was established to share case studies, best practices, technological innovations, and capacity-building initiatives across Parties.
- A second working group will focus on improving assistance and cooperation in the investigation and prosecution of offences related to the illicit tobacco trade.
- Parties were urged to intensify monitoring and collection of licence fees, which may be allocated to enforce licensing systems, public health measures, and other regulatory activities.
- Enhanced international and regional cooperation through training, technical assistance, and joint enforcement initiatives was encouraged.
In a significant development, Vanuatu joined the Protocol, becoming its 71st Party and further expanding the treaty’s global footprint.
The Protocol complements Article 15 of the WHO FCTC, which focuses on countering illicit trade as an integral part of comprehensive tobacco control. Illicit tobacco trade increases product accessibility and affordability, undermines national tobacco regulations, and provides financial support to transnational criminal networks, posing challenges for public health and economic governance worldwide.
Experts and officials described the outcomes of the MOP as a milestone in cohesive, coordinated, and evidence-based global action. Beyond the fiscal impact, these measures are expected to strengthen the rule of law, protect public health, and disrupt organised crime networks involved in tobacco smuggling.
Entering its second decade, the Protocol’s resolutions reflect a renewed international commitment to integrated legal, regulatory, and operational measures, ensuring more effective enforcement and compliance. Officials hailed the MOP session as a pivotal step toward sustainable tobacco control, global cooperation, and shared accountability, setting the stage for stronger action against one of the most persistent challenges in global tobacco regulation.
– global bihari bureau
