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COUNTRIES UNITE AGAINST TOBACCO INDUSTRY INTERFERENCE TREATY MEETING ADOPTS STRONG GUIDELINES FOR PROTECTING AGAINST INDUSTRY ABUSE For Immediate Release: Contact: DURBAN – Today 160 countries agreed on strong new guidelines to block tobacco industry interference in global health policies and the implementation of the global tobacco treaty. Since it took effect in 2005, implementation of the treaty, formally known as the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), has been systematically obstructed by Big Tobacco. The abuses of corporations like Philip Morris International (PMI), British American Tobacco (BAT) and Japan Tobacco have ranged from attempting to write tobacco control laws, blocking the passage of smoke-free legislation, and using so-called “corporate social responsibility” to circumvent ad bans. Tobacco industry interference has been the number one obstacle to the treaty’s implementation, and ratifying countries now see protections against this interference as the backbone of the treaty. “The tobacco industry has long exploited every opening to perpetuate a preventable epidemic that pads their bottom line,” said Kathy Mulvey, international policy director of Corporate Accountability International. “These guidelines will help advocates and public officials begin to slam the door on tobacco industry tactics, and focus on implementing the treaty’s lifesaving measures.” The new guidelines are designed to give teeth to Article 5.3 of the treaty which states, “in setting and implementing their public health policies with respect to tobacco control, Parties shall act to protect these policies from commercial and other vested interests of the tobacco industry in accordance with national law.” The guidelines include the following recommendations, rooted in the principle that the tobacco industry has a fundamental and irreconcilable conflict with public health: “This week a diversity of countries, facing a diversity of tobacco industry offenses, arrived on a set of universal principles to strip this industry of its ability to threaten public health,” said Network for Accountability of Tobacco Transnationals (NATT) spokesperson Bobby Ramakant. “An important precedent has been set that life-threatening corporate practices will not be tolerated.” Ratifying countries also approved strong guidelines for tobacco product packaging and banning tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship, but funding to support treaty implementation remains in question. “In sum, these measures provide a new impetus for the realization of our aspiration for a tobacco-free world. It is even of greater significance because it was achieved on African soil,” said Sam Ochieng from NATT in Kenya. “But now our work begins anew in implementing this landmark treaty. Our initiatives on the ground will require increased funding and constant vigilance against an industry whose profit-driven avarice will continue to challenge our advances, though its power to do so has been greatly reduced.” Other civil society leaders in the African region echo the same sentiments. “COP3 has produced the tool to rein-in tobacco industry interference across the entire African region. The global community has finally said no to tobacco industry so-called ‘corporate social responsibility’ and no to dubious government-industry partnerships. Now, tobacco control in Africa will be fast-tracked,” said Akinbode Oluwafemi of Environmental Rights Action, a member of NATT. For background on tobacco industry interference in the global tobacco treaty download the 3rd edition of the Global Tobacco Treaty Action Guide, available in English, French and Spanish, visit: www.StopCorporateAbuse.org. The Network for Accountability of Tobacco Transnationals (NATT) includes more than 100 NGOs from over 50 countries working for a strong, enforceable Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. 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 30 years, we’ve forced corporations—like Nestlé, General Electric and Philip Morris/Altria—to stop abusive actions. Corporate Accountability International, an NGO in Official Relations with the World Health Organization (WHO), played a key role in development of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).
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