10th Tobacco Industry Observatory on the COVID-19 Pandemic

October 29, 2020

Par: communication@cnct.fr

Dernière mise à jour: October 29, 2020

Temps de lecture: 4 minutes

STOP is an international monitoring organization that tracks the tobacco industry's interference in public policy. Since the start of the pandemic, the organization has noted a resurgence of industry activity in many countries around the world, which it compiles through monthly observatories. This resurgence in the tobacco industry's presence is closely linked to the Covid-19 pandemic, which allows it to whitewash its image. This edition covers the months of September and October 2020.

Regulation of tobacco products and illicit trade

Japan Tobacco International (JTI) executives said in a statement Global Forum on Tobacco and Nicotine, that the illicit tobacco trade in Europe had increased during the pandemic and opposed a tobacco tax hike in Russia, saying tax increases encouraged smuggling[1]The data comes from "field reports" carried out internally by JTI.[2]Historically, the tobacco industry has profited from and even participated directly in the illicit cigarette trade.[3].
In South Africa, the Fair Trade Independent Tobacco Association (FITA) said it would withdraw its legal action against the government if the government committed to not reintroducing a ban on the sale of tobacco products in the future. Minister Dlamini-Zuma said she could not commit to this.[4]-[5].

COVID19, corporate social responsibility and “science”

A group of academics involved in "harm reduction" has called for the retraction of an article published in the Journal of Adolescent Health, which found that vaping among young people was a risk factor for COVID-19.[6]Members of this group include Raymond Niaura and Konstantinos Farsalinos, proponents of the hypothesis that nicotine protects against COVID-19, and two consultants from Pinney Associates who worked with JUUL Labs owned by the tobacco company Altria-Philip Morris.
British American Tobacco is using vaccine development as a public relations opportunity, highlighting the company's progress on a COVID-19 vaccine.[7]-[8] alongside its CSR donations during the pandemic. BAT executives were invited to participate in information programs. They gave interviews in major news outlets to discuss the vaccine and present their new branding "For a Better Tomorrow," a campaign designed to promote their Vype e-cigarette. [9]
Angolan tobacco manufacturer Barco Trading Company (Angola) and Pan Africa Tobacco Group have promoted their corporate social responsibility activities during COVID-19, deployed with the Angolan authorities.[10]This is contrary to Article 5.3 of the WHO Framework Convention, which Angola has ratified, which aims to protect public policies from interference by the tobacco industry.

STOP - 10th Tobacco Industry Observatory during the Pandemic To read the first editions of the observatory

Keywords: CSR, tobacco industry, Covid19, STOP