US Signs Global Tobacco Treaty

　　1 The United States has taken the first step toward approving a global tobacco treaty that promises to help control the deadly effects of tobacco use throughout the world1 • Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson signed the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) this week at the United Nations. The Senate must still approve the treaty before the US can implement its provisions.

　　2 The FCTC was developed by the World Health Organization and approved by members of the World Health Assembly，including the United States，last year. Countries that ratify it would be required to enact strict tobacco control policies.

　　3 For instance, cigarettes sold in those countries would have to have health warnings on at least 30% of the front and back of every pack3. The treaty calls for higher tobacco taxes, restrictions on smoking in public places, and more promotion of tobacco prevention and cessation programs. It also requires bans on tobacco advertising, though there are some exceptions for countries like the United States, where the Constitution prohibits such an outright ban.

　　4 The impact of the treaty could be huge. The World Health Organization estimates that tobacco use kills nearly 5 million people worldwide every year. In the US alone, about 440,000 people die each year from tobacco-related illnesses ; about one-third of all cancers in the US are caused by tobacco use. If current trends continue, WHO estimates, by 2025 tobacco will kill 10 million people each year.

　　5 The treaty must be ratified by at least 40 countries before it can take effect. So far，109 countries have signed it, and 12 have ratified it.

　　词汇：

　　ratify vt 批准;认可

　　enact vt.使(法案等)成为法律;通过 (法案等);颁布(法令等)

　　cessation n.停止，休止

　　advertising n.做广告,登广告

　　prohibit v.禁止;不准

　　outright adj.完全的,彻底的

　　注释：

　　1. The United States has taken the first step toward approving a global tobacco treaty that promises to help control the deadly effects of tobacco use throughout the world.美国朝着批准一项全球性烟草协议迈出了第一步。该协议有望在世界范围内控制使用烟草所产生的致命性影响。

　　2. Countries that ratify it would be required to enact strict tobacco control policies.批准该协议的国家将被要求制定严格的烟草控制政策。

　　3. For instance, cigarettes sold in those countries would have to have health warnings on at least 30% of the front and back of every pack.例如，在那些国家出售的香烟将必须在每包烟正反面至少30%的地方注明吸烟有害健康的警告。

　　美国签订了全球烟草协议

　　美国朝着批准一项全球性烟草协议迈出了第一步。该协议有望在世界范围内控制使用烟草所产生的致命性影响。卫生和人类服务大臣托米•汤普森本周在联合国签署了烟草控制框架性协议(FCTC)。在美国能够实施其条款之前参议院还必须要批准这个协议。

　　FCTC是由世界卫生组织制定的，并且是由世界卫生大会的成员们去年批准的，其中包括美国。批准该协议的国家将被要求制定严格的烟草控制政策。

　　例如，在那些国家出售的香烟将必须在每包烟的正反面至少30%的地方注明吸烟有害健康的警告。这个协议呼吁对烟草收取更多的税，限制在公共场所吸烟和进一步推动禁止烟草的计划。它还要求禁止烟草广告，但是对像美国这样的国家有例外，这些国家的宪法禁止这么直率的禁令。

　　这个协议的影响可能是巨大的。世界卫生组织估计世界上每年有500万人因为吸烟而死亡。仅在美国，每年大约有44万人死于与烟草相关的疾病;美国所有的癌症中约有1/3是因为吸烟导致的。如果目前的趋势持续的话，世界卫生组织估计，到2025年烟草将每年夺取一千万人的生命。

　　这个协议至少被40个国家批准才能生效。到目前为止，109个国家已经签订了这个协议，12个国家已经批准了它。

（编辑：何莹莹）