Industry and interference: France on the world podium
November 17, 2020
Par: communication@cnct.fr
Dernière mise à jour: November 17, 2020
Temps de lecture: 3 minutes
France is recording a favorable evolution in the fight against industry interference, as shown by the global index on the subject, published on November 17, 2020. The country rises to second place worldwide, and to first place in Europe.
The Global Tobacco Industry Interference Index, Global TII, was initiated in 2015 in Southeast Asia by the STOP coalition. Based on a collection of local data, it aims to assess the degree of industry interference in the policies of a given country. For the year 2019, the index assessed 57 countries, in their capacity to resist the industry's influence strategies. As all Parties to the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), combating tobacco interference is part of these countries' obligations.
Progress made in combating interference
For this edition, France has recorded a number of advances. First, the index highlights the good involvement of the French presidency, the Prime Minister and the Minister of Health in neutralizing the influence of the tobacco industry. Second, France benefits from comprehensive legislation prohibiting the CSR activities of the tobacco industry. Finally, effective measures have been taken to improve the transparency of the industry's activities, particularly in its interactions with public decision-makers.
Efforts to continue
Since the fight against industry interference is never a given, the index highlights the importance of specific points to improve, to guarantee the protection and independence of public policies. In particular, a better knowledge of the FCTC and its issues by political decision-makers now appears essential. The index also denounces the still too opaque nature of the tobacco industry's lobbying activities. Furthermore, a certain number of provisions do not apply to representatives of tobacco retailers, even though they are identified as an objective ally of the cigarette companies. Finally, the index warns about the strategy of instrumentalizing the concept of "harm reduction", intended to promote new tobacco products and to call into question the various protective provisions adopted.
Keywords: France, Interference, Index
[1] Cigarette manufacturers and interference: France on the world podium, National Committee Against Smoking (CNCT), 11/17/2020, (consulted the same day)
