Nowadays more people than ever before are exposed to products and patterns of living imported or adopted from other countries that pose serious long-term risks to their health.

Tobacco, alcohol and some processed foods are being increasingly marketed by multinational companies, with low and middle income countries as their main targets for expansion.

Cigarette smoking is increasing rapidly in developing countries while the overall consumption of cigarettes in many developed countries is dropping. It has been estimated that by the year 2010 there will be over two million deaths each year in China from smoking-related diseases unless a major effort is made to reduce smoking.