Monitoring the tobacco industry

Understanding the tobacco industry's practices is crucial for the success of tobacco control policies. In recognition of this reality, TFI, following WHO's Member States' mandate, is monitoring and drawing global attention to the activities and practices of the tobacco industry. It does so in conformity with the call of the WHA Resolution 54.18 and also the text of the WHO FCTC, where it asks countries to remain:"… alert to any efforts by the tobacco industry to undermine or subvert tobacco control efforts and the need to be informed of activities of the tobacco industry that have a negative impact on tobacco control efforts…"

WHA Resolution 54.18

During the 54th World Health Assembly in May 2001, WHO’s Member States unanimously adopted a resolution calling for transparency in tobacco control. This was a response to their concerns about the fact that the tobacco industry had been operating for years with the express intention of subverting the role of governments and of WHO in implementing public health policies to combat the tobacco epidemic.

WHA54.18 Transparency in tobacco control

The Fifty-fourth World Health Assembly

Noting with great concern the findings of the Committee of Experts on Tobacco Industry Documents, namely, that the tobacco industry has operated for years with the express intention of subverting the role of governments and of WHO in implementing public health policies to combat the tobacco epidemic;1

Understanding that public confidence would be enhanced by transparency of affiliation between delegates to the Health Assembly and other meetings of WHO and the tobacco industry,

1. URGES Member States to be aware of affiliations between the tobacco industry and members of their delegations;

2. URGES WHO and Member States to be alert to any efforts by the tobacco industry to continue its subversive practice and to assure the integrity of health policy development in any WHO meeting and in national governments;

3. CALLS ON WHO to continue to inform Member States of activities of the tobacco industry that have a negative impact on tobacco control efforts.

(Ninth plenary meeting, 22 May 2001 - Committee B, second report)

(1) Tobacco company strategies to undermine tobacco control activities at the World Health Organization. Geneva, July 2000.

Article 5.3 of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control

Parties to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control have identified the tobacco industry as the primary driving agent of the tobacco epidemic. The preamble of the WHO FCTC emphasizes the need for Parties to be alert to any efforts by the tobacco industry to undermine or subvert tobacco control efforts and the need to be informed of activities of the tobacco industry that have a negative impact on tobacco control efforts. In addition to the preamble, Article 5.3 of the WHO FCTC states that "in setting and implementing their public health policies with respect to tobacco control, Parties shall act to protect these policies from commercial and other vested interests of the tobacco industry in accordance with national law." Furthermore, the third session of the Conference of Parties (COP) in November 2008, adopted guidelines which expand upon Article 5.3 emphasizing the fundamental and irreconcilable conflict between the tobacco industry’s interests and public health policy. The guidelines recommend that Parties "establish measures to limit interactions with the tobacco industry" and "reject partnerships and non-binding or non-enforceable agreements with the tobacco industry."