Delegates at the recent World Health Organisation (WHO) tobacco-control treaty conference in Durban have set new guidelines to stop tobacco firms from influencing health policy.

The guidelines are addressed at the signatories to the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) and propose governments to limit interaction with tobacco companies and reject any partnerships and non-binding or non-enforceable agreements with the industry. They also call for a move towards generic or plain cigarette packs, with standardised colours, fronts and "only the most objective information", including a very large health warning, according to Heather Selin of the Framework Convention secretariat.
While the agreement reached is not legally binding, the 160 FCTC signatories are likely to use the guidelines to shape national policy. (pi)