The illicit trade of tobacco products poses major health, economic and security concerns around the world. It is estimated that one in every 10 cigarettes and tobacco products consumed globally is illicit.

It is for this reason that combatting the illegal tobacco trade is the theme of WHO's annual World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) in 2015. A key objective of the campaign is to advocate for the ratification and implementation by governments of the Protocol to Eliminate the Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products, which is a supplementary treaty to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.