Articles

Image source: Fredrik Rubensson/CC BY-SA 2.0 Key Points Bangladesh is a country in South Asia, part of the World Health Organization’s South-East Asia Region. It has a population of 171.2 million, with tobacco use prevalence of 43.7%. Smoking prevalence is high, at 23.5%. However, smokeless tobacco (SLT) use prevalence is even higher, at 27.5%. Bangladesh ratified the WHO…

Image source: eltpics/CC BY-NC 2.0 Key Points Viet Nam is a country located in South East Asia, part of the World Health Organization’s regional office for the Western Pacific (WPRO). It has a population of 98.2 million, with tobacco use prevalence of 24.9%. Viet Nam ratified the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) in…

These terms are used on TobaccoTactics. Different terms may be used by other people and organisations working in tobacco control or other areas. We aim to simplify and use non-technical language where possible. We indicate where to find more information on TobaccoTactics and relevant external resources. The tobacco industry Central to the tobacco industry are companies which are involved…

There is general consensus in the global tobacco control community, and among parties to the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC), that tobacco industry interference is the greatest barrier to progress in reducing tobacco’s deadly toll.169 Article 5.3 of the FCTC, obliges countries to protect their health policies from the “vested interests of the…

Background In 2009, several retail groups and tobacco companies operating in Hong Kong came together to establish the Tobacco Control Concern Group (TCCG).180181182 TCCG has lobbied the government on tobacco control issues, and has echoed well known industry arguments against taxation, including that increased tax fuels illicit tobacco trade.183180 TCCG retail association members include…

Background The Coalition of Hong Kong Newspaper and Magazine Merchants (CHKNMM) is a retail association representing over 35,000 newsstands in Hong Kong.186 It has lobbied against tobacco control policies including tobacco tax increases and graphic health warnings. Relationship with the tobacco industry CHKNMM members are newspaper vendors. Many of which sell tobacco products as part of their business.187…

Lebensmittelverband Deutschland (LMVD), the Food Federation Germany, represents stakeholders working across the food industry in Germany.209 This includes those operating in the agricultural sector, the food and trade industries, the packaging industry, as well as suppliers, including the tobacco industry.210211 Background It was previously known as Bund für Lebensmittelrecht und Lebensmittelkunde (BLL), the German Federation for Food…

Background The Business Association of Georgia (BAG) was established in 2009, with a stated mission of improving the business environment in Georgia by “uniting the members, in close cooperation with the authorities, international and local partners”.235 As of 2022, members of BAG include around 100 holding companies, that represent over 600 businesses of varying sizes.235 Relationship with the…

Background The Influence Foundation was founded in New York in 2017. Its stated aim is “to advocate through journalism for rational and compassionate approaches to drug use, drug policy and human rights”.235 It is part-funded by tobacco companies and related third parties. The Influence Foundation owns and operates Filter magazine, which has published multiple articles criticising tobacco control policies…

Key Points In 2012, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) published guidance for assessing tobacco and nicotine products proposed by manufacturers as less harmful alternatives to conventional cigarettes. Transnational tobacco companies have developed similar multi-stage approaches to scientifically assess these newer products. There is evidence to suggest the industry’s approach does not guarantee good quality research or prevent the industry from…