U.N. Unveils Final Draft of Treaty

The United Nations unveiled the final draft of an international treaty that would make it illegal for tobacco companies to describe cigarettes as “mild,” and hold them responsible for health damage from their products.

Next month, the U.N.’s World Health Organization plans to wrap up more than three years of talks designed to cut cigarette consumption and reduce the 4.9 million deaths a year related to tobacco. Firms such as British American Tobacco, Philip Morris Cos. and Japan Tobacco Inc. already have responded by restricting advertising.

The treaty would outlaw cigarette descriptions such as “light,” set standards for health labels on cigarette packages and call for higher government taxes to discourage consumption.