Tobacco FactFile

27 February 2003 The BMA's Tobacco Control Resource Centre (TCRC) is today launching 'Tobacco FactFile' http://www.tobaccofactfile.org. This launch coincides with the deadline for the first international treaty for public health, the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, which takes place on Friday 28 February. This treaty will commit governments worldwide to take concrete action to stem the tide of tobacco-related illness and death.

'Tobacco FactFile' is an online database designed for health professionals, educationalists, the public and the media. It is the first one-stop information source about tobacco of its kind.

For more information go to the newsletter section or the full press release click here

Tobacco Advertising Directive

19 November 2002 - National tobacco advertising bans could go up in smoke, warn European doctors. National medical associations from all 15 EU member states - representing more than one million doctors - today urged members of the European parliament (MEPs) to act to save national restrictions on tobacco advertising.

For the full press release click here

Towards Smoke-free Public Places

6 November 2002 - 'Towards Smoke-free Public Places' comes from the BMA's Board of Science and Education and Tobacco Control Resource Centre (TCRC) and calls on the Government to introduce legislation as soon as possible to ban smoking in public places. The Government is being urged to learn from successful smoke-free policies in other countries and implement similar measures here.

For the full press release click here

Doctors call for strong support for the FCTC

4 November 2002 - Doctors’ organisations from across the European Union today warned that obstructive governments are threatening the effectiveness of international action to tackle tobacco-related illness and death. They also called on politicians to disclose any financial links they might have with the tobacco industry.

For the full press release click here

Tobacco Under the Microscope - A Doctors' Manifesto for Global Tobaccco Control

21 October 2002 - With one billion people estimated to die in the 21st century from tobacco-related causes, organisations representing more than 10 million doctors from around the globe have come together to call on governments to act now to cut tobacco use. Tobacco Control Resource Centre launched the document, 'Tobacco Under The Microscope: The Doctors' Manifesto For Global Tobacco Control'.

For the full press release click here

For more information or to download the publication visit the Doctors' Manifesto

TCRC-UICC Factsheets 16 July 2002

We have just added a series of factsheets to the resources section of our site. The factsheets are a result of a collaboration between the International Union Against Cancer's tobacco programme and the TCRC. These brief factsheets, written by leading workers in the field, deal with key concerns and issues in tobacco control.

Invitation to a Photocall 14 Feb 2002

Two million doctors call for a smoke-free Europe - Tobacco is the single biggest killer in Europe. Every year in the European Union, more than half a million people die from smoking. Across the whole of the European region, cigarettes are responsible for 1.2 million deaths each year - one in six of all deaths. Unless urgent action is taken, tobacco products will kill 2 million Europeans annually by the year 2020.

Every day, doctors come face to face with the suffering and death caused by tobacco. On Monday 18 February, representatives of 2 million doctors from across Europe will call on ministers to act now to introduce measures to protect Europe's citizens from tobacco.

To mark this event, eminent doctors from six European countries will don white coats and pose for photographs with a coffin, which symbolises the enormous death toll caused by tobacco. Participants will include Professor Sir Richard Doll (University of Oxford, UK), who discovered the link between lung cancer and smoking some 50 years ago.

You are invited to send a photographer to record this event.

For further information, please contact:
Please add new details as appropriate

For the BMA Tobacco Control Resource Centre (until 15 February)
please contact: Dr Sinéad Jones or Lisa Buck

• Tel: +44 (0)131 247 3070

• e-mail: tcrc@bma.org.uk

From 15 February, you can contact the TCRC by mobile telephone on:
+44 (0)7789 861 868

Notes for editors
1. The Tobacco Control Resource Centre (TCRC) works in partnership with national medical associations across Europe, supporting them in their efforts to help patients, educate their members and inform public policy with respect to tobacco. It is hosted by the British Medical Association, and receives funding from the Europe Against Cancer Programme of the European Commission.

2. The Tobacco Control Resource Centre works with 60 medical associations in 51 countries. The associations represent almost 2 million doctors - more than 60% of the European medical profession.

3. The call will be made during the 'Beyond Medicine' seminar at the European Ministerial Conference for a Tobacco-Free Europe (Warsaw, Poland), organised by the World Health Organisation.