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Health Ministry for halting production, sale of tobacco products
May 20, 2020

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Tuesday urged the authorities concerned to suspend production, supply, marketing, and sale of all kinds of tobacco products in Bangladesh to help fight against coronavirus. See more: The Independent [...]

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BAT threatens Dlamini-Zuma with lawsuit over tobacco ban
May 17, 2020

British American Tobacco South Africa has demanded that Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma amend regulations prohibiting the sale of tobacco products by Monday. See more: Chronicle [...]

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NCTC, health groups urge Jokowi to ban smoking in COVID-19 ‘high-risk areas’
May 17, 2020

The National Commission on Tobacco Control (NCTC) has urged President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo to enhance COVID-19 mitigation efforts by banning tobacco cigarettes and electronic cigarettes, especially in “high-risk areas”. See more: The Jakarta Post [...]

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Covid-19 crisis sparks new call in Scotland for tobacco levy
May 17, 2020

Scotland’s leading anti-smoking charity is backing calls for a minimum unit price (MUP) on tobacco after scientists said “now is the time” to tackle the largest preventable cause of chronic disease. See more: The Sunday Times [...]

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From a potential vaccine to millionaire donations: The active role of tobacco companies in times of coronavirus
May 17, 2020

Philip Morris International committed more than US $ 24 million to support actions against the pandemic, financing NGOs. A British American Tobacco subsidiary, meanwhile, is in the clinical testing stage of a possible vaccine. See more: LATERCERA [...]

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South Africa: U.S.$1,500 ‘Bribe’ Offered As More Cigarettes Seized During COVID-19 Lockdown
May 17, 2020

Three people have been arrested in Lenasia, Johannesburg, in spite of allegedly offering a whopping R30 000 to get out of being caught selling cigarettes during the coronavirus lockdown. See more: allAfrica [...]

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How bad is Juuling for the environment?
May 17, 2020

As a long-term smoker who has tried unsuccessfully to quit cold turkey, one of my biggest victories came in early 2019 when I picked up a Juul for the first time. It was love at first pull and, after a [...]

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Sampoerna factory closes after two COVID-19 deaths, authorities race to trace contacts
May 17, 2020

Tobacco giant HM Sampoerna’s factory in Rungkut district of Surabaya, East Java, has temporarily shut down following reports that two of its workers had died of COVID-19 and dozens of other workers had tested positive for the virus that causes the disease. See [...]

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The two faces of the tobacco industry during the COVID-19 pandemic
May 17, 2020

Since COVID-19 was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) on 11 March 2020, the world’s major tobacco companies have geared their CSR efforts to present themselves as allies of public health in the fight against the virus. For example, [...]

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WHO statement: Tobacco use and COVID-19
May 17, 2020

Tobacco kills more than 8 million people globally every year. More than 7 million of these deaths are from direct tobacco use and around 1.2 million are due to non-smokers being exposed to second-hand smoke. See more: World Health Organization [...]

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Suggestion that smoking protects from COVID-19 may be dangerous to public health
May 17, 2020

A new pandemic generates anxiety and confusion and drives people to seek remedies that may have little scientific evidence of efficacy. Based upon a flawed interpretation of preliminary COVID-19 data, the hypothesis that cigarette smoking protects one from coronavirus has emerged. [...]

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Tobacco industry targeting vulnerable communities in times of Covid-19 pandemic
May 17, 2020

Tobacco industry is actively involved in promoting and spreading false information through researches the benefits of nicotine patches that is a product of tobacco and smoking as a weapon that protects from COVID-19. See more: Pakistan Observer [...]

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COVID-19: For the tobacco industry, it’s all about profit
May 17, 2020

In times of crisis some corporations profit while others break. For the tobacco industry the COVID-19 pandemic which has shut down many nations and crippled the global economy seems “a make or break opportunity”. See more: EnviroNews Nigeria [...]

COVID-19 Resource GGTC Resources Global Practices Library

Letter to the Delegates of the 73rd World Health Assembly
May 17, 2020

15 May 2020Delegates of the 73rd World Health AssemblyUnited Nations HeadquartersGeneva, Switzerland To the Distinguished Delegates of the Seventy-third World Health Assembly: On behalf of civil societies working in tobacco control, we express our highest regard for your commitment and solidarity [...]

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GGTC to UN: Fight tobacco industry “misinfodemic”
May 5, 2020

May 5, 2020Bangkok, Thailand The Global Center for Good Governance supports the call to the United Nations (UN) to include the tobacco industry misinformation in the efforts to battle the COVID-19 “misinfodemic.” The call is embodied in a letter dated [...]

Library News In Brief Statements

Tobacco control during the COVID-19 pandemic: how we can help
May 5, 2020

Statement from the Head of the Convention Secretariat, Dr Adriana Blanco Marquizo | 4 May 2020 Today, we are facing a devastating global pandemic caused by a virus that – in just four months – has been responsible for more [...]

COVID-19 NEWS News News In Brief

False Friends: tobacco industry during Corona crisis
May 4, 2020

In the Coronavirus pandemic, the tobacco industry presents itself as the saviour in the crisis. A transparent diversionary tactic, since it has been fighting the public good for decades and ruining the health of countless people. See more: Unfairtobacco [...]

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Strengthen Youth Tobacco Control, Qi County Procuratorate Initiates Public Interest Litigation Procedure
May 4, 2020

On April 16, the Provincial People’s Procuratorate released information to the public. In response to the phenomenon that individual supermarkets and convenience stores in the jurisdiction may sell tobacco products to minors and did not post a ban on sale [...]

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FTC Looks to Unwind Altria’s $12.8 Billion JUUL Investment
May 4, 2020

Altria (NYSE: MO) faces the prospect of unwinding its $12.8 billion investment in leading electronic cigarette manufacturer JUUL Labs if the Federal Trade Commission successfully advances its case against the tobacco giant. See more: Nasdaq [...]

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Imperial Brands PLC agrees sale of Worldwide Premium Cigar Business for €1,225 million with proceeds to be used to reduce debt
May 4, 2020

Imperial Brands PLC (“Imperial”) is pleased to announce it has agreed the sale of its worldwide premium cigar businesses (“Premium Cigars”) to investment consortia of individual investors in two distinct transactions for a total consideration of €1,225 million (£1,074 million), [...]

COVID-19 Resource GGTC Resources Global Practices Library

An Open Letter to the Secretary General of the United Nations
May 3, 2020

30 April 2020 Secretary General António Guterres UNITED NATIONS New York, NY 10027 Dear Secretary General Guterres: The tobacco control community stands with you in your commitment to overcome the challenges of COVID-19 towards “a more sustainable, inclusive and equitable [...]

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Petition to the COVID-19 National Task-force: Government has a Duty to Protect Public Health Laws and Policies from Commercial and Other Vested Interests of the Tobacco Industry
April 23, 2020

Government has a duty to protect public health laws and policies from commercial and other vested interests of the Tobacco industry We, the Uganda National Health Users’/Consumers’ Organization call upon the COVID-19 National Task-force to look into the issue of [...]

COVID-19 COVID-19 NEWS Latest News News News Articles

Will Indonesia mitigate COVID-19 by enforcing stronger tobacco control
April 23, 2020

President of Indonesia, Joko Widodo, has been sent an appeal to urgently strengthen the response to corona virus disease in the country, by stronger enforcement of comprehensive and evidence-based tobacco control measures, which includes immediate ratification of the global tobacco treaty (World [...]

Litigation News News Articles

Montana files lawsuit against big tobacco over payments from 1998 settlement
April 23, 2020

Attorney General Tim Fox announced Monday his office filed suit in Lewis and Clark County 1st District Court against big tobacco for $43 million owed to Montana under the 1998 Master Settlement Agreement. See more: KTVH [...]

COVID-19 COVID-19 NEWS News In Brief

Coronavirus and tobacco industry duplicity
April 22, 2020

Lately, tobacco corporations have been getting special mention in the news just like they have always wanted. They crave the publicity. From donations to governments, unverified claims of new vaccines and proposals for partnerships, among others, one thing is certain: [...]

News News Articles

US suspends Malawi tobacco imports after child labour allegations
April 17, 2020

Author: Boseley, S., 2019 The US government has suspended all imports of tobacco from Malawi over child labour allegations. The ban follows the news that human rights lawyers are to bring a case against British American Tobacco (BAT)_in the high [...]

Litigation News News Articles

Malawi urged to turn over new leaf amid tobacco lawsuit
April 17, 2020

Author: Marima, T., 2020 Patchy rainfall in Malawi’s tobacco fields signals a difficult harvest season ahead for the farmers gathering the country’s “green gold”, but even greater storms could be about to break over an industry coming under increased international [...]

COVID-19 COVID-19 NEWS News News Articles News In Brief

Q&A on smoking and COVID-19
April 15, 2020

Are smokers and tobacco users at higher risk of COVID-19 infection? Smokers are likely to be more vulnerable to COVID-19 as the act of smoking means that fingers (and possibly contaminated cigarettes) are in contact with lips which increases the [...]

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Be wary of working with Big Tobacco, says WHO
April 15, 2020

The World Health Organisation has warned governments about engaging with the tobacco industry over the development of coronavirus vaccines. See more: The Times [...]

COVID-19 COVID-19 NEWS News News Articles News In Brief

Coronavirus risks send out yet another reminder to smokers: quit now
April 15, 2020

“I have argued before about the dangers posed by Covid-19 to smokers, and a huge amount of data now confirms my view – bodies like the World Health Organisation, the World Bank, health organisations and national ministers of health are [...]

COVID-19 COVID-19 NEWS News News Articles News In Brief

20 anti-tobacco organizations demand ban on tobacco goods manufacturing, sale
April 15, 2020

Describing Tobacco goods exacerbate COVID-19 infection and are not essential commodity, 20 anti-tobacco organizations demanded  withdrawal of a directive of the Industries Ministry to continue sale and manufacturing of cigarettes. See more: United News of Bangladesh [...]

COVID-19 COVID-19 NEWS News News In Brief

COVID-19: Telangana bans spitting of paan, tobacco products, chewing gums in public places
April 15, 2020

The State government issued a GO on Wednesday, banning spitting of paan, any chewable tobacco or non-tobacco products or sputum in public places and Institutions as such a practice may lead to potential transmission of COVID-19. See more: The New [...]

COVID-19 COVID-19 NEWS News News Articles News In Brief

NYSAFP: Ban Tobacco/Vaping Products During COVID-19 Pandemic
April 15, 2020

When Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s so-called New York State on PAUSE Executive Order(coronavirus.health.ny.gov) went into effect March 22, New York ranked as the state hardest hit by COVID-19, with more than 20,000 people testing positive for SARS-CoV-2.(coronavirus.health.ny.gov) That same day, the New York State [...]

5.3/ TII News News Articles

E-Cigarette Use & Ads Aimed At Kids Threaten Tobacco Control Gains – On 15th Anniversary Of International Convention
March 18, 2020

Authors: Ren, G. and Fletcher, E.R. As the World Health Organization and WHO member states celebrate 15 years since the signing of the the Framework Convention for Tobacco Control (FCTC), the global uptake in e-cigarettes, as well as targeted advertising aimed [...]

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Menthol cigarettes are to be banned in 2020 – Here’s what you need to know
March 18, 2020

Author: Munbodh, E. New laws are set to come into force this May as part of the Government’s plan to stop smoking in the UK completely. Menthol cigarettes will be banned from UK stores, along with skinny cigarettes and flavoured [...]

Litigation News News Articles

Juul Labs Sought to Court AGs as Teen Vaping Surged
March 18, 2020

Authors: Perrone, M. & Lardner, R. Juul’s political action committee made thousands of dollars in campaign contributions to individual state attorneys general, according to records It was a blunt warning about the dangers of youth vaping: Georgia Attorney General Chris [...]

News In Brief

Government vows to protect health policy from Big Tobacco after Bureau investigation
March 18, 2020

Author: Davies, M. The government has pledged to defend public health policy from tobacco companies lobbying for relaxed regulations after Brexit. Last night the health minister Jo Churchill reiterated the government’s commitment to a landmark treaty that restricts contact with [...]

News Video

Tobacco company fined for unlicensed distribution, advertisement of cigarettes at music festival
March 17, 2020

A tobacco company has been fined $15,000 for unlicensed distribution and advertisement of cigarettes at a music festival. Japan Tobacco International (Singapore) was one of the sponsors for the EDM festival – Ultra Singapore 2016, which attracted 45,000 people over [...]

Country News News Articles

Doctors hit back at ‘big tobacco’ bid to sell vaping products in Australia
March 17, 2020

Author: McCauley, D. Doctors are fighting an application by global tobacco giant Philip Morris International to sell its “heat not burn” products in Australia, warning there is “no evidence” the product is any safer than smoking cigarettes. Read more: Brisbane [...]

Global Practices Library

OECD Response Letter to STOP’s letter to the OECD Secretary General
March 4, 2020

Author: Gooch, A. Thank you for your letter to the OECD Secretary-General expressing your concerns about the invitation of Mary Katherine Brink from Philip Morris International to speak at a session on responsible lobbying during our annual Anti Corruption and [...]

Litigation News News Articles

Jury denies family monetary award in tobacco lawsuit
February 28, 2020

Author: Schottelkotte, S.   The family of Robert McCain Sr. gathered at a Polk County courtroom earlier this month hoping to hold cigarette maker R.J. Reynolds accountable for the 2007 death of their patriarch, who had smoked cigarettes for more than [...]

Litigation News News Articles

Some Academics Quietly Take Side Jobs Helping Tobacco Companies in Court
February 28, 2020

Author: Farmer, B.     In 1998, major tobacco companies reached a historic legal settlement with states that had sued them over the health care costs of smoking-related illnesses. But individual smokers have continued to sue, and to this day the [...]

Country Litigation News

$15 billion awarded to Quebec smokers in landmark class-action lawsuit
February 28, 2020

Author: Banerjee, S. In a ruling described as “historic” by one anti-tobacco group, a Quebec judge has ordered three major cigarette companies to pay $15 billion to smokers in what is believed to be the biggest class-action lawsuit ever seen [...]

Country Litigation News

Quebec Court of Appeal upholds ruling ordering tobacco companies to pay billions to smokers
February 28, 2020

Author: Laframboise, K. Quebec’s highest court has upheld a historic ruling that ordered three major cigarette companies to pay billions in damages to smokers in the province. Read more: Global News [...]

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When Cigarette Companies Used Doctors to Push Smoking
February 28, 2020

Author: Little, B. What cigarette do doctors says causes less throat irritation? In the 1930s and 40s, tobacco companies would happily tell you it was theirs. Doctors hadn’t yet discovered a clear link between smoking and lung cancer, and a [...]

5.3/ TII Country Library Litigation News

All provinces can now sue big tobacco
February 28, 2020

Author: Moulton, D. Nova Scotia has officially become the last province in Canada to proclaim legislation giving it the legal green light to sue tobacco companies for unlawful activities alleged to increase smoking rates. Minister of Health and Wellness Leo [...]

Litigation News News Articles

People Can Still Sue Tobacco Companies Over Health
February 27, 2020

Author: Ausick, P.             The proposed $49 billion acquisition by British American Tobacco PLC (NYSEMKT: BTI) of the 58% of Reynolds American Inc. (NYSE: RAI) that it does not already own will, if approved, create the [...]

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Tobacco industry has least influence on the UK, watchdog ranking reveals
October 10, 2019

Author: Newey, S. The first ever global index to track tobacco industry influence over public health policy has revealed that the UK is a world leader in efforts to curtail undue meddling. Read more: Telegraph   [...]

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E-Cigarettes: Tobacco industry misinformation on e-cigarettes, a ‘real threat’, says WHO
September 5, 2019

1 August 2019 – The World Health Organization (WHO) stated that e-cigarettes are “undoubtedly harmful”, and warned that misinformation spread by the tobacco industry in claiming that they are “safer” constitute “a present and real threat” to public health. The [...]

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Tobacco Ban on Facebook/Instagram must meet global standards
August 28, 2019

July 25 2019 – GGTC welcomes the Facebook / Instagram policy prohibiting users and groups from selling, transferring or gifting tobacco products including hookah, e-cigarettes, and tobacco paraphernalia; but finds that the policy falls short of global tobacco treaty standards. [...]

Library News Press Releases

WHO statement urging governments to ban tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship at international expositions
August 19, 2019

The World Health Organization (WHO) issued a statement calling upon governments to enforce their obligation under the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) Article 13 to enforce comprehensive bans on tobacco advertising promotion and sponsorship at international expos and [...]

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Tobacco Grants returned by Bangladesh NGO BRAC
August 15, 2019

August 14, 2019 – On July 31, Bangladeshi tobacco control advocates announced that BRAC, a world-leading non-government organization (NGO) from Bangladesh, has returned funds worth USD 64,151 that they had received as a grant from the Philip Morris International (PMI)-funded [...]

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Health Groups: “Protect UN/ SDGs from Tobacco Industry”
August 6, 2019

July 20 2019 On 19 July 2019, Stopping Tobacco Organizations & Products (STOP) , a global watchdog, joined the Framework Convention Alliance (FCA), Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), and Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids (CTFK) in  issuing a letter asking [...]

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Michael Bloomberg na Campanha Contra o Cigarro
July 30, 2019

(Michael Bloomberg in the Campaign Against Cigarettes) Author: Yokota, P. When Michael Bloomberg (photo) reinforces the fight against the use of cigarettes using an online database, one has to admire a businessman like him, whose main activity is linked to [...]

Library News News In Brief

Philip Morris funded Foundation is more PR than research according to Tobacco Watchdog
July 30, 2019

June 12 2019: The first analysis of the 2018 tax return of the Philip Morris International (PMI) funded Foundation for a Smoke Free World (FSFW), revealed that most of the Foundation’s funding activities have gone more into public relations (PR) than into scientific researches; [...]

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Irish retailers lobby group accused of cosying up with Big Tobacco
July 28, 2019

Author: Whyte, B. An anti-tobacco campaign funded with $20 million from billionare former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg has identified an Irish retailers’ lobby group as an “ally” of Big Tobacco. Read more: The Business Post [...]

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Joint Letter to the UN SG Re: The role of the tobacco industry in the 2030 agenda for Sustainable Development
July 26, 2019

Framework Convention Alliance together with ASH: Action on Smoking & Health, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids and STOP (Stopping Tobacco Organizations and Products – Vital Strategies, Tobacco-Free Union, Tobacco Control Research Group at University of Bath, Global Center for Good Governance [...]

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Staff Spotlight on… Phil Chamberlain, Managing Editor of Tobacco Tactics
July 26, 2019

Warm up: How long have you worked at the Uni? What does your role involve? I started in April 2019 when I joined STOP (Stopping Tobacco Organizations and Products) to manage the Tobacco Tactics website. This is a key, indeed world-renowned, output from the [...]

5.3/ TII News News Articles

Tobacco industry interference holds back efforts to stamp out smoking
July 26, 2019

Author: Gulland, A. Tobacco industry interference with government policy is hampering global efforts to stamp out smoking, a new report warns. Read more: Telegraph [...]

Country News News Articles

136 Countries Now Have Tobacco Control Policies; Progress Slow On Smoking Cessation Services
July 26, 2019

Author: Branigan, D. The last decade has seen dramatic progress in the fight against tobacco, with some 136 countries having implemented policies such as smoking bans in public places, higher taxes or graphic packaging on tobacco products. But there is [...]

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STOP Tobacco Industry Watchdog exposes Industry Allies that undermine public health
July 26, 2019

A new database released by STOP (Stopping Tobacco Organizations and Products) reveals dozens of groups from around the world aiding the tobacco industry in its considerable efforts to subvert public health policies. These tobacco industry allies act as lobbyists, spokespeople [...]

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Michael Bloomberg reforça luta contra cigarro com banco de dados on-line
July 26, 2019

(Michael Bloomberg strengthens fight against cigarettes with online database) Author: Hancock, A. An online platform that features a list of companies that contribute to promoting the tobacco industry is the latest effort in a $ 20 million initiative, funded by [...]

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WHF and partners call on UN Secretary General to reject proposal for a “more nuanced” relationship with tobacco industry
July 25, 2019

On behalf of the members of the Global Coalition for Circulatory Health, we are writing to you because we are deeply concerned by a letter on the role of the tobacco industry in the United Nation’s (UN) 2030 Agenda that you [...]

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SFP supports joint letter to the UN SG following a note on the role of the tobacco industry in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
July 22, 2019

SFP expresses its support for the letter sent on behalf of Action on Smoking & Health (ASH US), Framework Convention Alliance, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids and STOP (Stopping Tobacco Organizations and Products) to the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres. Read [...]

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Vertrekkend VN-topfunctionaris neemt het op voor de tabaksindustrie
July 22, 2019

(Outgoing UN top official is up for the tobacco industry) Michael Møller, head of the UN headquarters in Geneva, left a letter for his successor on his last working day, defending Big Tobacco. The Foreign Policy website made the letter public. Read more: Tabaknee [...]

News In Brief

Tobacco workers to ILO: Quit tobacco industry
July 17, 2019

In an open letter to members of the International Labour Organisation’s Governing Body, tobacco workers demand that the ILO stops its cooperation with the tobacco industry. Here is the full text of the letter: UNFAIRTOBACCO [...]

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More than 100 organisations call on ILO not to renew tobacco industry contracts
July 17, 2019

130 public health and sustainable development organizations from more than 60 countries have called on the International Labour Organization (ILO) not to renew or extend contracts that currently tie the ILO to an industry whose products kill more than 7 million people [...]

FSFW Library News News In Brief Press Releases

No Takers for Philip Morris’ Foundation for Smoke Free World Event
July 9, 2019

July 4, 2019, Bangkok – The Foundation for Smoke Free World (FSFW)-backed event called Smoke Free Dialogue in Bangkok being convened by SustainAbility in Bangkok had been cancelled because “few attendees confirmed”, according to the organizers’ response to invitees. Prof. [...]

Library News News In Brief

India heightens efforts to protect health policies against tobacco industry vested interests
July 8, 2019

On 24 June 2019, the Indian Ministry of Health and Family Welfare issued a letter signed by Additional Secretary Sanjeeva Kumar, to all state governments in India, underlining India’s obligation under the WHO FCTC Article 5.3 to protect public health policies [...]

FSFW News News Articles

Philip Morris Thailand denies involvement in activities of Foundation for a Smoke-Free World
July 4, 2019

Tobacco giant Philip Morris has denied accusations it controls the activities of the Foundation for a Smoke-Free World, despite funding the organisation. Philip Morris Trading (Thailand)’s Pongsathorn Ansusinha said: “Neither Philip Morris Thailand nor Philip Morris International [PMI] have anything [...]

News News Articles

Big Tobacco moves back into advertising
July 3, 2019

Author: Weaton, S. It took decades, but tobacco companies have figured out how to get their ads back into heavy rotation: by not selling cigarettes. Fourteen years after an EU directive banned most cigarette advertising, tobacco companies are enjoying a [...]

News News In Brief Press Releases

Public Statement in relation to the invitation to attend tobacco industry-backed ‘Smoke Free Dialogue’
July 1, 2019

GGTC received invitations for two officers to attend the Smoke Free Dialogue, an event organized by SustainAbility, which is funded by the Foundation for a Smoke Free World (FSFW), on July 25 in Bangkok, Thailand. It came to our knowledge [...]

Library News

Uganda court curtails tobacco companies’ involvement in health
June 21, 2019

On May 28, 2019, Ugandan court junked a suit filed by British American Tobacco to challenge the constitutionality of Uganda’s Tobacco Control Act which came into force in 2016. The order recognized the tobacco companies’ tactics of thwarting policies such [...]

5.3/ TII Library News

The 5.3 Knowledge Hub and the Convention Secretariat host key meetings in Thailand
June 20, 2019

The Global Center for Good Governance in Tobacco Control (GGTC), as the WHO FCTC Secretariat’s Knowledge Hub for Article 5.3, and the WHO FCTC Secretariat hosted two consecutive meetings in May 2019 in Bangkok, Thailand: the 4th meeting of the [...]

Library News In Brief

Brazil sues tobacco companies to recoup healthcare costs
June 20, 2019

On May 21, 2019, the Brazilian government filed a lawsuit against two major tobacco companies to recover healthcare costs due to top 26 diseases scientifically proven to be linked with cigarette smoking. It also seeks moral damages and anticipated health [...]

Library News In Brief

Beverly Hills Ends Tobacco Game
June 20, 2019

A city that is home to famous celebrities and known for luxury hotels and shopping has announced an end date for tobacco sales. By January 1, 2021, there will be a ban on the sale of most tobacco products in [...]

News News In Brief

Shameless and blameless: how big tobacco is trying to dupe everyone — and what SARS should do about it
June 12, 2019

Author: Eads, M., Ross, H. and Kalideen, S. Big tobacco’s public relations campaign around the intention by SARS to clamp down on tobacco supply chains should come as no surprise. It comes straight out of their playbook used around the [...]

5.3/ TII Library News News Articles News In Brief

State of Kerala adopts a comprehensive policy on FCTC Article 5.3
May 24, 2019

23 May 2019, Bangkok – The State of Kerala in India has adopted a comprehensive policy to protect its policies against the tobacco industry’s commercial and vested interests. The policy is to be overseen by an intergovernmental committee which involves [...]

News

French motorcycle Grand Prix of Le Mans : Justice gives right to the National Committee for Tobacco Control (CNCT) and prevents the return of Philip Morris on the circuits.
May 20, 2019

The French justice has just subjected the multinational tobacco company Philip Morris a stinging defeat by giving a stop to its attempt to return to motorsport, including the sponsorship of Ferrari cars and Ducati motorcycles. Commissioned by the Ministry of [...]

News News Articles

Big Tobacco’s shadowy new play
May 20, 2019

Author: Elliott, T. Filipinos have always been among the world’s most enthusiastic smokers. According to the World Bank, more than 40 per cent of Filipino adult men smoke. Cheap tobacco and lax regulation has made smoking a way of life, [...]

News News Articles

WHO official: With e-cigarettes, the tobacco industry just ‘changed clothes’
April 8, 2019

Author: Michalopoulos, S. Dr Vera Luiza da Costa, the head of secretariat of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), has criticized the tobacco industry, saying that with its push for electronic cigarettes the trade “just changed clothes while [...]

News News Articles

Piers Morgan ridicules Philip Morris boss for ‘staggeringly hypocritical’ campaign to ‘end smoking’ with help of less harmful alternatives – despite still selling cigarettes
April 8, 2019

Author: Keay, L. The boss of one of the world’s largest cigarette companies has urged Britons to stop smoking. Peter Nixon is the UK managing director for Philip Morris, which produces 800 billion cigarettes across the world every year. But [...]

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The cost of defeating Philip Morris over cigarette plain packaging
April 3, 2019

Author: Ranald, P. Australia scored a victory over the tobacco giant Philip Morris in the High Court in 2012. The court held that Australia’s plain cigarette packaging laws were legal and did not constitute an unjust confiscation of trademarks and [...]

FSFW News News Articles

WHO rejects collaboration with Philip Morris-funded foundation
March 27, 2019

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus rejected a collaboration proposal from the Foundation for a Smoke-Free World, funded by PhilipMorris International. The foundation proposed that WHO “review and consider how best to work with the foundation to facilitate a rapid reduction [...]

Global Practices News

STOP’s letter to the OECD Secretary General
March 21, 2019

20 March 2019 Angel Gurria Secretary-General Organization of Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Dear OECD Secretary General Angel Gurria: We, the leadership of STOP, a global tobacco industry watchdog, write to express our grave concern that a Philip Morris International [...]

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Tobacco and E-Cigarette Lobbyists Circle as F.D.A. Chief Exits
March 16, 2019

Author: Kaplan, S. and Richtel, M. Dr. Scott Gottlieb became commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration in 2017 with an ambitious plan to reduce cigarette smoking, a habit that kills nearly half a million Americans each year, by shifting [...]

FSFW News News Articles

Explained: Why a Philip Morris Funded Foundation Is Repeatedly Denounced by WHO
March 12, 2019

Author: Bhuyan, A. Last week, the innocuously named Foundation for a Smoke Free World (FSFW), was once again embarrassed by the World Health Organisation (WHO). The WHO’s director general Dr Tedros publicly condemned the efforts of this foundation to influence [...]

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Commentary: Philip Morris Says It Wants to Quit Cigarettes. But It’s Just Blowing Smoke.
March 12, 2019

Author: Myers, M. and Koval, R. Philip Morris International (PMI)—the giant cigarette manufacturer operating in most countries excluding the U.S.—claims it wants a smoke-free future, placing advertisements in major United Kingdom newspapers earlier this week with a New Year’s resolution: [...]

Latest News News In Brief

Big Tobacco is no friend to Women – INWAT
March 8, 2019

March 8, 2019 The International Network of Women against Tobacco (INWAT) calls out the Phillip Morris International (PMI) “Week of Women,” – a so-called celebration of International Women’s Day a hoax. PMI has a renowned and infamous history of marketing [...]

Country Policies/ Practices News News Articles

Quebec Court of Appeal upholds ruling in landmark tobacco class-action
March 7, 2019

Author: Lampert, A. and Geller, M. The Court of Appeal of Quebec upheld on Friday the bulk of a 2015 decision that awarded around C$15 billion ($11.29 billion)to smokers in the Canadian province, dealing a blow to Big Tobacco. Read [...]

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Putrajaya warned against working with tobacco industry-funded lobby groups
February 22, 2019

Author: Dzulkifly, D. The Malaysia Medical association (MMA) has warned the federal government today against working with groups that are stealthily being funded by tobacco companies. Read more: Malay Mail [...]

FSFW News News Articles

Over 100 health organisations urge WHO to reject Philip Morris International-led body’s appeal to collaborate on tobacco control
February 11, 2019

Public health experts from over 100 organisations around the world on Tuesday urged the World Health Organisation Executive Board (WHO-EB) to reject a Philip Morris International-funded foundation’s appeal to the global health body to collaborate on tobacco control policies. Read [...]

FSFW Global Practices Library News

Open Letter to Urge WHO Executive Board to Reject Foundation for a Smoke Free World (FSFW)
January 28, 2019

28th January 2019 To the Director General and Executive Board of the World Health Organization, We write to you, as members of the global public health community, to express our grave concern at the attempt by the Philip Morris International-funded [...]

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How tobacco industry donations cloud debates over cigarette controls
January 24, 2019

Author: Glenza, J. Smoking kills more than 27,200 Malaysians every year. In March 2017, Malaysia’s health ministry hoped to reduce that grim tally by floating a plan to sharply increase cigarettes taxes as recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), [...]

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Revealed: the free-market groups
January 24, 2019

Author: Glenza, J. Free-market thinktanks around the world provide a powerful voice of support to cigarette manufacturers in battles against tougher regulations, a Guardian investigation shows. Read more: The Guardian   [...]

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Scientists Are Rejecting Massive Amounts Of Money For Research From The Tobacco Industry
December 6, 2018

Author: Scott, E. Multiple Australian researchers have asserted that they will not accept funding or support from a tobacco industry–funded research organisation in an editorial published today. The Foundation for a Smoke-Free World (FSFW) is an international research organisation that [...]

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The truth about lobbying: 10 ways big business controls government
December 4, 2018

Authors: Cave, T. and Rowell, A. From trying to stop plain packaging on cigarettes to pushing through HS2 and opening the countryside to fracking, big business employs lobbying companies to persuade government to meet their interests. But what are the [...]

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Tobacco Industry Ploys
November 30, 2018

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US seeks $289bn in tobacco claim
November 15, 2018

The US Justice Department is suing the world’s leading tobacco companies for $289bn (£184.5bn) of their profits for the alleged fraudulent marketing of cigarettes. Read more: BBC News  [...]

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Malawi: Tobacco Industry Accused of Engaging Children
November 15, 2018

Author: Vokhiwa, H. Nairobi — The Malawi tobacco industry has come under renewed pressure to stop using child labour and to make way for other more economic crops in the country. Tobacco accounts for a significant proportion of the country’s [...]