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NGOs URGE WHO TO RESIST INDUSTRY INFLUENCE Public Interest NGO Targeted; Industry Front Group Remains For Immediate Release: Contacts: GENEVA--This week's meeting of the World Health Organization's (WHO) Executive Board has focused heavily on a resolution relating to international trade and health. Today, the debate on the issue of relations with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) brought a case study on tensions related to trade and commercial interests within the world's pre-eminent health body. For the second year in a row, the Executive Board has deferred renewal of WHO's relations with Corporate Accountability International--a public interest NGO that played a leading role in the development of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) and continues to campaign for its ratification and implementation around the world. At the same time, the Executive Board approved a three-year renewal of WHO's official relationship with the International Life Sciences Institute (ILSI)--a trade association under scrutiny for its relationship with tobacco corporations and other industries. Corporate Accountability International is Secretariat of the Network for Accountability of Tobacco Transnationals (NATT), which has fostered leadership among developing country NGOs on the FCTC, and is also working with WHO on implementation of the Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health. By mid-November, Corporate Accountability International had met the conditions for renewal of its relations with WHO: it worked with WHO to develop and agree to a joint work plan, and responded to an unfounded allegation by the United States government of "inappropriate behaviour" during sessions of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body on the FCTC. Now the U.S., which has not ratified the FCTC, is renewing its attack on Corporate Accountability International--with similarly vague and unsubstantiated allegations and no new information. Moreover, when Corporate Accountability International asked a U.S. representative for a copy of the letter containing the allegations, their request was refused, making it impossible to respond directly to them. "Along with our NATT allies, our organization has campaigned forcefully, based on sound principles, for a strong FCTC. Now, we are being unfairly targeted," says Kathryn Mulvey, Executive Director of Corporate Accountability International. "This appears to be naked intimidation. If one country is allowed to bully an NGO that has responsibly advanced WHO's initiatives, it will set a dangerous precedent that will have a chilling effect on NGO Meanwhile, a group of 18 health, environmental and labor NGOs sent a letter this past December to the Executive Board urging WHO to sever its ties with ILSI. The letter noted that the business association does not meet WHO's guideline for NGOs to be "free from concerns which are primarily of a commercial or profit-making nature," and cited ILSI activities that have biased WHO policies and compromised public health--on issues from nutrition to chemicals to second-hand smoke. The WHO Executive Board approved a recommendation by its Standing Committee on NGOs to exclude ILSI from collaborating with WHO on "normative activities." "We highlighted ILSI's demonstrated history of putting the interests of its exclusively corporate membership ahead of science and health concerns, and expressed profound concern that ILSI's special status with WHO provides a back door for industry to influence WHO activities," says Jennifer Sass, a Senior Scientist in the Health and Environment Program at the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and lead author of the letter. "While we are disappointed that the Executive Board has not ended WHO's official relationship with ILSI, we are hopeful that the restriction will reduce industry interference in standard-setting at the international and national levels." In the past two years, two food industry trade associations--the International Council of Grocery Manufacturers Associations (ICGMA), and the Confederation of Food and Drink Industries of the EU (known by its French abbreviation, CIAA)--failed to gain admission into official relations with WHO as NGOs. "The questions raised about the ICGMA and the CIAA showed a commitment to keep business associations out of the NGO category and a concern about conflicts of interest, particularly regarding ties to the tobacco industry. We urge member states to apply the same criteria to ILSI," says Lida Lhotska of the International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN). ### Corporate Accountability International, formerly Infact, is a membership organization that protects people by waging and winning campaigns challenging irresponsible and dangerous corporate actions around the world. For over 25 years, we've forced corporations--like Nestlé, General Electric and Philip Morris/Altria--to stop abusive actions. Corporate Accountability International is an NGO in Official Relations with the World Health Organization (WHO). For more information visit www.stopcorporateabuse.org.
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Related Links: Industry Association Wields Hidden Influence over Key U.S., International Health Safeguards |
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