While marking the fifth anniversary of an international tobacco control treaty, WHO Director-General Margaret Chan called for Government officials worldwide to increase efforts to protect their population from the harmful effects of tobacco.

"Tobacco kills more than 5 million people a year from cardiovascular disease, cancers, diabetes and other chronic illnesses, including about 600,000 from second-hand smoke, according to the United Nations agency. Most alarming of all, tobacco use is actually increasing in many developing countries", Chan said.

The 2005 WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control strictly bans advertising and sponsorship, advocates tobacco taxes, legislation to make public places smoke-free and other restrictions to help countries reduce tobacco use. The treaty is been endorsed by 168 countries.

Bans were enforced in 17 countries, including countries like Colombia, Djibouti, Guatemala, Mauritius, Panama, Turkey, and Zambia and 21 countries have tobacco tax rates higher than 75% of the retail price.

Governments must take certain steps like curbing tobacco advertising and sponsorship to protect their populations from exposure to tobacco smoke and reduce demand through price and tax measures.

Philip Morris International, which sells Marlboro cigarettes and is the world's largest non-state-owned tobacco firm, supported regulation and other treaty provisions.