(July 7, 2016, New York, USA) – Vital Strategies today welcomes the decision of the European Commission to reject the renewal or extension of an agreement with Philip Morris International (PMI) on illicit tobacco. Vital Strategies also urges European countries – and countries across the world – to stand firm against signing similar bilateral agreements with PMI or other tobacco firms.
José Luis Castro, President and Chief Executive Officer, Vital Strategies commented:
“The European Commission’s decision is a victory for health and governance. The role of the tobacco industry in facilitating and benefiting from illicit trade is well-known; it only comes to the policy table to delay and derail effective tobacco control. Such was the impact of PMI’s agreement with the European Commission, which data suggest has been ineffectual in reducing the overall burden of illicit tobacco across European Union (EU) member countries.
“Without the illusion of tobacco industry co-operation, these countries can now take more robust action to combat the health and economic harms of tobacco, including illicit tobacco. In this respect, we urge them to fully implement the WHO Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products, in line with the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) and the EU’s own Tobacco Products Directive.
“Europe has made the right decision to protect its efforts on illicit trade from the tobacco industry, but tobacco companies are still trying to persuade a number of individual countries to sign similar bilateral agreements. What’s more, they are deliberately overstating the size of the problem to heighten concern, while simultaneously using the spectre of illicit trade to argue against tobacco taxes and plain packaging. Analysis (including studies reported in The Tobacco Atlas) shows that tobacco control policies like plain packaging, tobacco taxes and display bans do not increase illicit trade – debunking the industry’s claims.
“This is stark reminder of why Article 5.3 of the FCTC is so important. The tobacco industry’s vested interest in recruiting and retaining smokers for profit means that it can never be an honest actor in public health policy decisions. We urge all countries to fully implement the FCTC – including taking action to reduce illicit trade, increase tobacco taxes and implement graphic warnings and plain packaging, while keeping the tobacco industry away from the policy table.”
About Vital Strategies
Vital Strategies envisions a world where every person is protected by a strong public health system. Our team combines evidence-based strategies with innovation to help develop sound public health policies, manage programs efficiently, strengthen data systems, conduct research, and design strategic communication campaigns for policy and behavior change. Vital Strategies was formed when The Union North America and World Lung Foundation joined forces. It is an affiliate of The International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union).
To find out more, please visit vitalstrategies.org or Twitter @VitalStrat
For further information or to arrange an interview with a Vital Strategies public health and tobacco control expert, please contact Tracey Johnston, Vital Strategies, at +44.7889.081.170 or tjohnston@vitalstrategies.org