The tobacco industry which is known to be the vector of the tobacco epidemic, causing at least 1.4 trillion dollars of economic losses annually along with 8 million deaths, is now further contributing to an increased burden on the healthcare system during the COVID-19 pandemic. To ensure that its culpability goes undetected during the crisis, the tobacco industry launders its image through donations, particularly to governments and through government officials, in cash, personal protective equipment (PPE), and medical equipment such as ventilators. Notably, the tobacco industry’s donation, a form of so-called corporate social responsibility (CSR) acitivty, is disproportionate to the value of the damage it brings to the economy. Tobacco industry’s so-called CSR activities allow it to market its dangerous and addictive products and undermine governments’ credibility and commitment to implement the global tobacco control treaty, WHO FCTC which, under Article 5.3, provides that: Governments must protect its public health policy from the commercial and vested interests of the tobacco industry, and this involves denormalizing so-called CSR of the tobacco industry.

Date	Title	Donation/CSR activities
Bangladesh Economic Costs of Tobacco Use: USD1.85 billion (BDT110 billion) in 2004
May 12, 2020	Corona treatment: Abul Khair Group started providing free oxygen	Abul Khair Group 300 specialized oxygen cylinders
March 31, 2020	Professional bodies, NGOs donate PPE for public hospitals	British American Tobacco Bangladesh* Personal Protection Equipment’s (PPE)
Brazil Economic Costs of Tobacco Use: USD12 million (BRL73 million)
March 25, 2020	City Hall transfers over R $ 2 million to Santa Cruz hospitals	Philip Morris Brasil R $ 500,000
Bulgaria Economic Costs of Tobacco Use: USD1 million (BGN3 million)
	Who are the generous donors to the campaign, set up by BCause Foundation and #Forthegood Project against COVID-19 in Bulgaria?	Philip Morris Bulgaria 320 leva (USD170,000)
Canada
October 23, 2020	PMI Announces Medicago to Supply Up to 76 Million Doses of Its Plant-Derived COVID-19 Vaccine Candidate	Medicago (where Philip Morris (PMIBV) has 1/3 shareholdings) • supply up to 76 million doses of its vaccine candidate for COVID-19
Costa Rica Economic Costs of Tobacco Use: USD112 million (CRC64 million)
April 16, 2020	Conferencia de prensa de actualización de acciones e información #COVID19	Philip Morris International Artificial respirators Declarations of Mario Ruiz Cubillo (Medical Manager of the Costa Rican Social Security fund)
Ecuador Economic Costs of Tobacco Use: USD141 million
	PMI is asking for an extension to renew health warnings, alleging that its businesses are affected. Note: This info was shared by the Ministry of Health (reserved information).
Fiji Economic Costs of Tobacco Use: USD2 trillion
June 06, 2020	BAT invests $10m in Fijian economy	British American Tobacco USD10 million
Georgia Economic Costs of Tobacco Use: USD190 million (GEL619 million)
March 23, 2020	PHILIP MORRIS GEORGIA ANNOUNCES IMMEDIATE CONTRIBUTION OF 100 000 GEL TOWARDS FIGHT AGAINST COVID-19	Philip Morris Georgia 100 000 GEL
Greece Economic Costs of Tobacco Use: USD5 million (EUR4 million)
April 02, 2020	Tobacco firm Philip Morris faces backlash over ‘coronavirus publicity stunt’ after it donates ventilators	Philip Morris International Ventilators
March 30, 2020	Big Tobacco criticised for ‘coronavirus publicity stunt’ after donating ventilators	Philip Morris International Ventilators
March 18, 2020	Greek tobacco firm donates 50 respirators to equip Greek hospitals	Philip Morris International 50 respirators
Honduras Economic Costs of Tobacco Use: USD81,000 (HNL 2 million)
April 25, 2020	The Honduran Tobacco Company (British American Tobacco, BAT), together with the Honduran Private Company Council, COHEP, donated 3,000 protective masks to the National Police, as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility.	British American Tobacco (BAT) 3,000 protective masks
India Economic Costs of Tobacco Use: USD7.4 billion (INR354 billion) in 2002-2004
April 06, 2020	DTC donates ₹25 lakh to CMRF	Deccan Tobacco Company ₹25 lakh (USD50,000)
April 05, 2020	ITC’s boxes of ‘hope’ and ‘happiness’ to provide essential supplies to the elderly amid Covid-19 lockdown	Indian Tobacco Company Limited (ITC) ‘Aashirvaad Box of Hope’ for the elderly contains Aashirvaad atta, salt and basic spices. Sunfeast Box of Happiness for children includes packets of Sunfeast biscuits, YiPPee! noodles, Jelimals, B Natural juices and snacks from Bingo!
March 27, 2020	ITC sets up Rs 150 crores COVID Contingency Fund for vulnerable sections of society	India Tobacco Company (I.T.C.) Rs 150 (USD20 million)
Indonesia Economic Costs of Tobacco Use: USD484-1,200 million (IDR4.4-11 trillion) in 2005
September 16, 2020	Did COVID-19 help Big Business punt harmful products?	Tobacco giant Philip Morris International (PMI) 50 ventilators to intensive care units in Greece and in Germany PMI’s production sites were used as logistics centers to distribute personal protective equipment.
August 3, 2020	Sampoerna Provides PCR Machine Assistance to Malang City Government	Sampoerna 1 PCR machine
August 5, 2020	Regency Government Receives PCR Machine from PT HM Sampoerna	Sampoerna 1 PCR machine to accelerate the handling of Covid-19 in Pasuruan Regency.
August 5, 2020	Malang Receives PCR Machine Assistance, Mayor Sutiaji Hope Can Accelerate Corona Detection	Sampoerna 1 PCR machine 100 sets of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
August 5, 2020	Regency Government Receives PCR Machine from PT HM Sampoena	PT HM Sampoerna Tbk 2 PCR (swab) machines
August 3, 2020	Held the SEBAR 2020 Program, PHBI Collaborates with CSR Sampoerna Sukorejo Plant	CSR Sampoerna 1 building public facilities (Fasum) in the form of canopies wells and reservoirs for local residents in Ngadimulyo Village to make it easier for residents to get clean water supplies for their daily needs
August 3, 2020	Sampoerna Provides PCR Machine Assistance to Malang City Government	Sampoerna 1 PCR machine
July 29, 2020	SRC Pattimura Donates 100 Food Packages	Sampoerna Retail Community (SRC) 100 Food Packages
July 10, 2020	Djarum Foundation Back to Help Demak	Djarum Foundation 50 boxes of medical masks 100 units of Kudos coveralls for medical personnel
June 19, 2020	Given by Thousands of APDs, the Regent of Celica: Very Useful to Handle Corona in Karawang	PT HM Sampoerna Tbk* 2 ventilators 5,000 fabric masks 500 hazmat clothes 50 full sets of personal protective equipment 200 face shields
June 19, 2020	Sampoerna and Rumah Kita Help with Hazmat Masks and Clothes	PT HM Sampoerna Tbk* 7,500 fabric masks 650 hazmat clothes 155 personal protective equipment 250 face shields
June 07, 2020	Support Indonesia to Fight COVID-19, Sampoerna Donate Ventilators and Full Set PPE	PT HM Sampoerna Tbk 14 units of artificial breathing apparatus or ventilators 45,000 masks 4,000 hazmat clothes 600 sets of personal protective equipment (PPE) 900 units of face shields
June 05, 2020	Pasuruan Regent Appreciates Ventilator and APD Assistance	PT HM Sampoerna Tbk* 2 ventilators 5,000 masks 250 hazmat clothes 50 full set personal protective equipment (PPE) 100 face masks
June 04, 2020	PT TSPM (KT&G) Donates Co-19 Swab Test Equipment Assistance	PT TSPM (KT&G) 1000 PCR swab reagents
May 29, 2020	HM Sampoerna (HMSP) channeled assistance to Covid-19 affected migrants	PT HM Sampoerna Tbk 10,000 hygiene packages 20,000 nonmedical masks 10,000 bottles of hand sanitizers 10,000 drawstring bags
May 22, 2020	Alfamart Distributes Food Packages to 1,500 Traders of OBA Traditional Stalls	PT. Djarum* food packages to 1,500 traditional OBA stall merchants (Alfamart Guided Outlets)
May 21, 2020	Pamekasan Regional Hospital received PPE from the Djarum Foundation	Djarum Foundation PPE equipment google glasses dental protective faces N95 masks surgical masks boots gloves headgear vitamin C and virus transportation media (VTM)
May 19, 2020	YLKI Accuses Cigarette Industry of Using Pandemic for Covert Advertising	personal protective equipment (PPE) given to hospitals
May 8, 2020	KT&G delivers COVID-19 diagnostic kits to the Indonesian government	South Korean tobacco company (KT&G) USD82,0000 worth of COVID-19 test kits
May 8, 2020	The Government Receives Covid-19 Test Kit Assistance Worth Rp1.2 Billion	South Korean tobacco company (KT&G) USD82,0000 worth of COVID-19 test kits
April 22, 2020	The Vice Regent Has Received CSR Assistance from Six Companies	PT HM Sampoerna Tbk. 100 liter disinfectant 100 liter hand sanitizer 1,500 cloth mask 1,000 pcs cloth mask
April 22, 2020	PMI Demak Receives APD Assistance from Kudus Djarum Foundation	Djarum Foundation 80 units of personal protective equipment (PPE)
April 07, 2020	Covid-19 in Kediri, Gudang Garam Handed Ambulance to PMI	PT Gudang Garam Ambulance to Indonesian Red Cross
April 02, 2020	Djarum Donates Rp 1.5 Billion for the Procurement of PPE in Kudus	PT Djarum’s Bakti Sosial Djarum Foundation Rp 1.5B (USD94,500) worth of equipment Personal Protection Equipment’s (PPE) Coverall Shirts (500 pieces) Goggle Glasses (400 pieces) Dental Protective Face (300 pieces) N95 Masks (4,000 pieces) Surgical Masks (1,000 boxes) Boots (400 pairs) Gloves (1,000 boxes) Headgear (5,000 pieces) Virus Transportation Media (VTM) (5,000 pieces).
Italy Economic Costs of Tobacco Use: USD28 million (EUR26 million)
May 14, 2020	The tobacco industry uses the COVID-19 emergency to advance its strategy and commercial propaganda	Philip Morris Manufacturing & Technology 100 meals a day for the Zola Predosa Food Bank 3000L ‘Made in ER’ hand sanitizer EUR1.4 million for Civil Protection EUR1 million
May 10, 2020	Zola, Philip Morris donates one hundred meals a day to the most needy	Philip Morris Manufacturing & Technology 100 meals a day for the Zola Predosa Food Bank
May 5, 2020	Hand sanitizer distributed to health care companies and residential homes for the elderly	Philip Morris Manufacturing & Technology Bologna 3000L ‘Made in ER’ hand sanitizer
April 20, 2020	CORONAVIRUS, PHILIP MORRIS’S COMMITMENT TO THE ITALIAN CHAIN	Philip Morris Manufacturing & Technology Bologna EUR1.4 million for Civil Protection
March 30, 2020	PHILIP MORRIS DONATES 1 MILLION AND ACTIVATES ITS SUPPLY CHAIN IN ITALY TO HELP TACKLE THE EMERGENCY	Philip Morris Italia and Philip Morris Manufacturing & Technology EUR1 million
Kenya Economic Costs of Tobacco Use: USD27 million (KES2.9 million)
April 11, 2020	300,000 Liters Of Sanitizer Produced And Released For Distribution	British American Tobacco Kenya* 300,000 liters of Sanitizer
Lebanon Economic Costs of Tobacco Use: USD476,339 (LBP700 million)
April 08, 2020	Tobacco and Planking”:$ 1 million to” help students abroad and to buy respirators	Tobacco and Tobacco Counting Department 1M for Lebanese students
Malaysia Economic Costs of Tobacco Use: USD3 million (MYR15 million)
April 07, 2020	MyKasih Raises RM 3mil for Food Aid During MCO	Japan Tobacco International (JTI) Malaysia* Riased RM 3M (692,000 USD)
Mauritania Economic Costs of Tobacco Use: USD38 million (MRU1.4 million)
April 15, 2020	Mohamed Ould Bouamatou: Course of a “Jumbo”!	Mohamed Ould Bouamatou USD2.5 million (FRF1.5 billion)
Mexico Economic Costs of Tobacco Use: USD2 million (MXN57 million)
May 02, 2020	REGIONAL COMPANIES HAVE ALREADY DONATED $ 58 MILLION	British American Tobacco (BAT)* Raised MXN58 to provide public and private hospitals with protective equipment
Myanmar Economic Costs of Tobacco Use: USD5 million (EUR4 million)
March 26, 2020	Myanmar traditional cheroot producers association donate cash to the National Central Committee on Prevention, Control and Treatment of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)	Myanmar traditional cheroot producers association K 35M (USD25,000)
Nigeria Economic Costs of Tobacco Use: USD2 trillion (NGN780 billion)
March 31, 2020	COVID-19: Kwara shuts borders, fumigate markets	International Tobacco Company 10,000 bottles of hand sanitisers 7,400 face masks
Philippines Economic Costs of Tobacco Use: USD6 billion (PHP300 billion) in 2003
April 14 -19, 2020	LT Group extends COVID support to public hospitals Frontlines well provisioned Lucio Tan mobilizes P200M for war vs COVID-19	Philip Morris Fortune Tobacco Corp Inc.’s (PMFTC)* 40 ventilators 5 PCR (polymerase chain reaction) 2 ambulances 1 X-ray machine 4 thermal scanners 159,583 Personal Protection Equipment’s (PPE) 101 thermal thermometers 472,064 liters of ethyl alcohol 135,860 liters of beverages 157,197 meal packs 47,601 pieces of canned goods and snacks and coffee 107, 455kg of rice
April 16, 2020	More PEZA-registered companies donate PPEs, medical equipment, goods as ECQ nears week seven	Japan Tobacco International (JTI)* Bunny suits N95 and surgical masks Testing kits
April 09, 2020	PMFTC donated 50 collapsible hospital beds to Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority.	Philip Morris Fortune Tobacco Corp Inc.’s (PMFTC) 50 collapsible hospital beds
April 07, 2020	Ecozone locators lauded for helping Covid-19 front-liners	Japan Tobacco International (JTI) 20,000 face masks
April 06, 2020	P1.8-M ventilator gidonar sa MisOr sa NMMC	Philip Morris Fortune Tobacco Corp Inc.’s (PMFTC) P1.8M (35,000 USD) ventilator
April 01, 2020	Eastern Samar Governor Ben Evardone, through his Facebook account, thanked PMFTC for its donation	Philip Morris Fortune Tobacco Corp Inc.’s (PMFTC) 40,000 surgical mask
April 01, 2020	Jaime V. Ongpin Foundation, Inc. (funded by PMFTC) distributing donations in the Philippines	Philip Morris Fortune Tobacco Corp Inc.’s (PMFTC)* Personal Protective Equipment (washable face mask and hand gloves) Alcohol Virus Blocker Thermal Infrared Scanner
March 28, 2020; April 1, 2020	PMFTC donation to the Philippines National Police. Facebook posting thanks PMFTC for their 10,000 face mask donation.	Philip Morris Fortune Tobacco Corp Inc.’s (PMFTC) 1000 coveralls 3000 KN95 mask
Romania Economic Costs of Tobacco Use: USD5 million (RON24 million)
March 27, 2020	Philip Morris donates $ 1 million to Romania for the Red Cross	Philip Morris International USD1 million to Romanian Red Cross
Russia Economic Costs of Tobacco Use: USD33,000 (RUB2.4 million)
June 11, 2020	KT&G Donates COVID-19 Diagnostic Kits to Russia and Turkey	South Korean tobacco company (KT&G) Diagnostic kits worth 100 million won
Senegal Economic Costs of Tobacco Use: USD8,000 (CFA5.5 million)
April 15, 2020	Mohamed Ould Bouamatou: Course of a “Jumbo”!	Mohamed Ould Bouamatou USD1.6 million (CFA1 billion)
Serbia Economic Costs of Tobacco Use: USD2 trillion
July 22, 2020	BAT Donates Money To Gerontology Center In Belgrade	British American Tobacco donated money to the Gerontology Center in Belgrade, for the procurement of medical equipment
South Africa Economic Costs of Tobacco Use: USD3 million (ZAR59 million)
April 01, 2020	Rupert’s R1bn for Covid-19 was always a donation after all	Johann Rupert and family R1bn (USD50 million)
Turkey Economic Costs of Tobacco Use: USD6 million (TRY41 million)
June 11, 2020	KT&G Donates COVID-19 Diagnostic Kits to Russia and Turkey	South Korean tobacco company (KT&G) Diagnostic kits worth 100 million won
May 11, 2020	Tobacco Companies break ban, donating Turkey’s presidential fundraising campaign	Japan Tobacco International Turkey (JTI Turkey) 1 million 255 thousand TRY (USD150,000) PHILSA Philip Morris Sabancı Cigarette and Tobacco Inc. 4 million 724 thousand TRY (USD650,000)
Uganda Economic Costs of Tobacco Use: USD2 trillion (UGX7 trillion)
April 21, 2020	Coronavirus: African govts must mobilise against tobacco industry, group urges	Tribert Rujugiro Ayabatwa Shs 250M (USD70,000)
April 11, 2020	Rwandan Tycoon Rujugiro’s Companies Donate Shs 250m to Fight COVID19 in Uganda Exiled Rwandan tycoon Tribert Rujugiro Ayabatwa donates Shs250m ($67,000 or Rwf 63m) towards #Uganda government fund to help poorest Ugandans during #COVIDー19. Rujugiro owns Meridian Tobacco Company and others. Rwanda accuses him of being financier of Rwandan group RNC	Tribert Rujugiro Ayabatwa Shs 250M (USD70,000)
Ukraine Economic Costs of Tobacco Use: USD3 billion (UAH81 billion) in 2009
June 09, 2020	Tobacco Firms Defend Donations	Imperial Tobacco Ukraine one ventilator
April 02, 2020	STATEMENT OF INJUSTABILITY OF “BLEACHING” TO THE REPUTATION OF TOBACCO CORPORATIONS BY STATE AUTHORITIES Philip Morris Ukraine donates 10 million hryvnias to combat coronavirus epidemic	Philip Morris Ukraine USD10 million
USA Economic Costs of Tobacco Use: USD 510 million
May 4, 2020	Good News: Amid pandemic, Louisville construction company builds homes for people in need	Altria USD90,000 to COVID-19 relief efforts in Kentucky, USA
April 16, 2020	Food bank receives $55,000 donation	Altria and its subsidiary U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company USD55,000
March 29, 2020	Ramsey e-cigarette company produced and gave away 500 gallons of hand sanitizer	Baker White Inc. 500 gallons hand sanitizer
March 20, 2020	Altria Accounces Initial $1 Million Commitment to Support Coronavirus Relief Efforts	Altria Group, Inc. USD1 million
Vietnam Economic Costs of Tobacco Use: USD1 million (VND24 billion) in 2011
March 27, 2020	Vinataba supports Bach Mai Hospital in preventing and fighting Covid-19	Vinataba VND300 million (USD12,788) 1,000 medical protective clothes and 2 mobile disinfection chambers
February 29, 2020	China National Tobacco Corporation donated another 100 million yuan to help win the Hubei Defense War The tobacco industry has donated 456 million yuan to fight the epidemic	China National Tobacco Corporation 456 million yuan
. Zambia Economic Costs of Tobacco Use: USD 2 trillion
July 20, 2020	Chanje Thanks Govt And JTI For Investing In Community	Japan Tobacco International $150,000 dollars, which is about K2.7 million, worth of Covid-19 preventative materials to 60 schools and 35 clinics in Chipangali
June 25, 2020	JTI Donates Towards Covid-19 Fight in Eastern Province	Japan Tobacco International USD 150 000 to over 60 schools and 35 clinics in Eastern Province

* With host partners

Do you have information on tobacco industry’s tactics during COVID-19? Let us know. Send us any information at ggtc@ggtc.world or submit here.