Country

Description / Details

Official Documents

Antigua and Barbuda

(3) Reject partnerships and non-binding agreements

The government does not involve the tobacco  industry in any decisions regarding public health policies. Its new draft tobacco control legislation includes a requirement protecting public health policies from the industry.2

Document N/A*

Australia

(2) Limit interactions and ensure transparency of interaction that occur; (4) avoid conflicts of interest; (6) de- normalize and regulate its so-called CSR

The government’s National Tobacco Strategy 2012- 2018 includes a provision to “protect public health policy, including tobacco control policies, from tobacco industry interference.”3

National Tobacco Strategy 2012-

20188

Public Service Act: Code of Conduct, 19999

The Department of Health and Ageing informs the general public through its website details of its meeting with the tobacco industry, including consultations on plain packaging measures. 4 The Australian Taxation Office also uploads on its website records of meetings of the Tobacco Stakeholder Group, which includes industry representatives.5

The Australian Public Service Code of Conduct requires all government officials to take reasonable steps to avoid conflicts of interest, while the government keeps a Register of Lobbyists and a Lobbying Code of Conduct to  ensure  that interactions between lobbyists and government representatives are done consistent with public expectations of transparency, integrity, and  honesty.6

The government does not accept  donations  from  the industry; any donations to a political party greater than A$10,000 should be reported to the

Australian Electoral Commission.7

Bahrain

(1) Raise awareness; (2) limit interactions and ensure transparency of interactions that occur; (3) reject partnerships and non-binding agreements; (6) de- normalize and regulate its so-called CSR

The government bans tobacco industry sponsorship, directly or indirectly, of any event related to health, sports, and welfare, and prohibits industry interference in tobacco control policies.10

Policy N/A†

In 2014, it reported that its Ministry of Health denied the request of Bahrain’s business association, a tobacco investor, to be included as member of the National Anti-Smoking Committee, emphasizing that tobacco industry representatives are not allowed to interfere with tobacco control policies.11

Benin

(1) Raise awareness; (2) limit interactions and ensure transparency of interactions that occur; (3) reject partnerships and non-binding agreements

The Ministry of Health disallows public sector collaboration with  the  tobacco  industry  and tobacco industry participation in all its meetings. In 2014, a network to monitor the tobacco industry was established after a workshop on WHO FCTC Article

5.3 implementation.12

Policy N/A‡

Brazil

(1) Raise awareness; (2) limit interactions and ensure transparency of interactions that occur; (3) reject partnerships and non-binding agreements; (4) avoid conflicts of interest; (6) de-normalize and regulate its so- called CSR; (7) do not give preferential treatment

The government requires members of its multi- sectoral national committee for tobacco control (CONICQ) to prevent conflicts of interest. In addition, it bans acceptance of gifts or offers of partnerships from the tobacco industry, and disallows giving of preferential treatment to it. Its policy ascertains the following principles for action by CONICQ members: transparency; primacy  of interests  of public  health; access to information on the industry and its

interference in tobacco control.13

Administrative Rule Nº 713,

201214

Bulgaria

(1) Raise awareness; (2) limit interactions and ensure transparency of interactions that occur

Ministry of Health officials shun any type of communication with tobacco industry representatives. A website, maintained within the frame of the National Programme for Tobacco Control, is used to expose industry tactics.

The government is planning to come up with a normative act to oblige all public institutions and municipal structures to ascertain transparency in all interactions with the industry.15

National Programme for Limitation of Tobacco Smoking in the Republic of Bulgaria, 2007-

201016