Report: Big Tobacco blocks treaty progress toward saving lives

Industry intimidation spurs global action in lead-up to treaty meeting

For Immediate Release:
October 4, 2010

Contact:
Christina Rossi, 617-447-2540

BOSTON, USA—Today, tobacco industry watchdog Corporate Accountability International and its allies released a report documenting widespread tobacco industry interference in the implementation of the global tobacco treaty (formally known as the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control). The report’s release kicks off a string of grassroots actions in dozens of countries leading up to this November’s treaty meeting in Punta del Este, Uruguay.

What’s at stake are as many as 200 million lives – the number of lives the World Health Organization projects would be spared by 2050 if the treaty takes full effect. Tobacco industry interference remains the single greatest obstacle to this objective and a centerpiece of discussion at the November meeting.

Actions during this week’s 10th International Week of Resistance to Tobacco Transnationals will expose industry obstructionism in countries around the globe, building momentum going into the November meeting. The Week is also an opportunity for the global community to speak out in solidarity with Uruguay. Philip Morris International is aiming to make an example of the host country in advance of the meeting, suing it for implementing a treaty provision requiring stronger cigarette pack health warning labels.

“Big Tobacco first tried to bully the global community out of advancing this treaty. Now it’s attempting to bully countries out of enforcing it,” said Gigi Kellett, director of Corporate Accountability International’s campaign Challenging Big Tobacco. “Still, our findings indicate that the industry’s resolve to defy the law is matched only by civil society’s resolve to end industry intimidation.”

Among the tobacco industry tactics used to undermine treaty implementation, the report documents cases of:

Buying influence. In Colombia, Philip Morris International gave the government $200 million following the adoption of treaty implementation legislation to “address areas of mutual interest.” The contribution is already compromising the country’s ability to enforce its new tobacco control laws.
Exploiting revolving doors. In the United Kingdom, the Prime Minister appointed former British American Tobacco executive Kenneth Clarke as Justice Minister. Among the cases Clarke will invariably address – a recent lawsuit by BAT and its competitors against a new law cracking down on tobacco product displays.
Launching and threatening lawsuits. The tobacco industry is also engaging in or threatening lawsuits regarding tobacco product displays, packaging, and health warning labels from Australia and the Philippines to Norway.

All of these tactics are in direct defiance of the treaty, specifically its Article 5.3, which deems such industry interference to be in fundamental conflict with the treaty’s public health aims.

At the same time, the report finds that this Article is being used to great effect globally to insulate the treaty’s implementation against the tobacco industry. Action ranges from Mauritius becoming the first country to ban all tobacco industry “corporate social responsibility” schemes to Panama’s prohibiting government agencies and officials from accepting tobacco industry contributions.

“Those countries, large and small, that refuse to be intimidated, are emboldening others to follow their lead,” said Philip Jakpor, spokesperson for Environmental Rights Action in Nigeria and the Network for Accountability of Tobacco Transnationals (NATT). “The success of the November treaty meeting will be measured by the number of Parties that return to their countries with a plan to root out industry interference. Millions of lives are on the line.”

Each year, tobacco kills more than five million people each year and 80 percent of those deaths are in low-income countries, where treaty implementation represents some of the first efforts at tobacco control.

One hundred seventy-one countries have ratified the global tobacco treaty since its entry into force in 2005. Today, the treaty protects more than 87 percent of the world’s population.

For the full report, further background on the treaty, and facts on the tobacco epidemic, click here: www.ChallengingBigTobacco.org.

Full Statements:

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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 is an NGO in Official Relations with the World Health Organization (WHO).

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.