217. With respect to the WHO taking the floor, the Dominican Republic said that his delegation had no objection a statement to be made by the WHO Secretariat, as long as the statement focused on the health aspect and did not touch on aspects which fell under the responsibility of the WTO. He wished to repeat that the Dominican Republic did not deny the harm tobacco caused to health, but what was of concern to his delegation was that a Pandora's box could be opened which would have an impact on any products which countries considered harmful to health.
