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Context
WHO has released the 10th version of its Global Tobacco Epidemic Report, assessing development in tobacco control since the launch of the MPOWER method in 2008.
Key Highlights
- The record notes substantial worldwide development, with over 6.1 billion people now covered by as a minimum one of the 6 MPOWER measures.
- Widespread Impact: Since 2007, a hundred and fifty five nations have applied at least one of the MPOWER policy prescriptions, collectively reaping rewards over 6.1 billion people.
- India’s Leadership in Digital Content Regulation: India has significantly turned out to be the first country globally to use tobacco control policies especially to digital streaming content.
- India’s Strong Stance on TAPS: India has applied stringent measures to lessen tobacco marketing, advertising, and sponsorship (TAPS) throughout all media. This aligns with the “E” (Enforce bans) in MPOWER and is an essential step in reducing tobacco enchantment.
- Tobacco Tax: A vital finding is that tobacco tax remains the least-followed MPOWER measure globally. This is a widespread problem as growing tobacco taxes is widely identified as one of the only approaches to lessen consumption, especially amongst children and low-income groups.
Tobacco Consumption
- Tobacco use claims over 7 million lives a year, predominantly in low- and middle-income countries.
- India is the world’s 2nd-largest tobacco producer after China.
- India is the 4th largest manufacturer of Flue Cured Virginia (FCV) tobacco in the world after China, Brazil and Zimbabwe.
- Tobacco use is a major danger issue for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in India, which include most cancers, heart diseases, and respiratory diseases, accounting for over 1.35 million deaths every year.
- Significant development has been made to reduce tobacco use in countries with the highest burden of tobacco consumption over the last 2 decades.
- Key strategies consist of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) and the six proven World Health Organization (WHO) MPOWER tobacco control measures to lessen tobacco use:
- Monitoring tobacco use and prevention guidelines;
- Protecting people from tobacco smoke with smoke-free air legislation;
- Offering help to stop tobacco use;
- Warning approximately the risks of tobacco with pack labels and mass media;
- Enforcing bans on tobacco advertising, advertising and sponsorship;
- Raising taxes on tobacco.
Source: The WHO
UPSC Prelims Practice Question
Q. Which one of the following groups of plants was domesticated in the ‘New World’ and introduced into the ‘Old World’? (2019)
(a) Tobacco, cocoa and rubber
(b) Tobacco, cotton and rubber
(c) Cotton, coffee and sugarcane
(d) Rubber, coffee and wheat
Ans: (a)
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