SA health minister, Mantombazana Tshabalala-Msimang, reported that "Our campaign has scored a resounding success, especially among young people," referring to a recent South African report that smoking among 13 to 17-year-olds had dropped from 23 percent to 18.5 percent between 1999 and 2002.
The treaty would would stil require a prerequisite 40 nations will sign the treaty to bring it into force. United States initially voiced objections but later dropped these objections. The US and China, both large tobacco producers, did not commit themselves to signing it.
The question now is whether the strongly-worded treaty, which will require additional legislation in the United States, can pass Congress. Congress would need to ban tobacco advertising where it is not in conflict with the Constitution and require that warning labels cover at least 30 percent of the package.
South Africa has been a strong supporter of the treaty throughout. Tshabalala-Msimang told the WHO assembly the treaty "will eventually save the lives of approximately 10 million people a year, most of them in developing countries."
