title: Costa Rica's implementation of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control: Overcoming decades of industry dominance.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the passage of Costa Rica's 2012 tobacco control law.
  
  
  METHODS
  Review of legislation, newspaper articles, and key informant interviews.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Tobacco control advocates, in close collaboration with international health groups, recruited national, regional and international experts to testify in the Legislative Assembly, implemented grassroots advocacy campaigns, and generated media coverage to enact strong legislation in March 2012 consistent with the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, despite tobacco industry lobbying efforts that for decades blocked effective tobacco control legislation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Costa Rica's experience illustrates how with resources, good strategic planning, aggressive tactics and perseverance tobacco control advocates can overcome tobacco industry opposition in the Legislative Assembly and Executive Branch. This determined approach has positioned Costa Rica to become a regional leader in tobacco control.
authors.affiliation: Center for Tobacco Control Research and Education, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, Estados Unidos de América.
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Crosbie
authors.affiliation: International Advocacy Center, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, Washington, Distrito de Columbia, Estados Unidos de América.
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sosa
authors.affiliation: Center for Tobacco Control Research and Education, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, Estados Unidos de América.
authors.forename: Stanton A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Glantz
mesh_terms: D003364:Costa Rica; D006291:Health Policy / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006801:Humans; D008119:Lobbying; D011634:Public Health / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D012907:Smoking / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D019460:Tobacco Industry / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000517:prevention & control; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000517:prevention & control; D062789:Tobacco Products
chemical_list: D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution