BMJ  2006;332:548 (4 March), doi:10.1136/bmj.332.7540.548-a

Letter

Mexico and the tobacco industry

Response from the Ministry of Health

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

EDITOR—Mexico was the first country in the Americas to ratify the World Health Organization's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. Since 2001, Mexico has carried out a comprehensive tobacco control policy, which includes:

• Unprecedented increases in the taxation rates of tobacco products
  
• A total ban on tobacco publicity on the radio, television, and internet
  
• A substantial increase in the size of the warning label on cigarette packs (50% of one of the largest sides) and
  
• Total restriction on smoking in all federal buildings.
  

Two articles in the BMJ of 11 February that discuss a tobacco control measure implemented by Mexico's government provide incomplete information and disregard the context in which an agreement between the Ministry of Health of Mexico and the tobacco industry was implemented,^{1 2} suggesting that, due to the agreement, no additional measures will be taken. This mistaken assessment stems from two major sources of misunderstanding by the . . . [Full text of this article]

Ministry of Health of Mexico, Lieja 7, 1st Floor, Colonia Juarez, Mexico City, Mexico 06696 rtapia@salud.gob.mx

Ministry of Health of Mexico, Lieja 7, 1st Floor, Colonia Juarez, Mexico City, Mexico 06696

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