The presence of the tobacco industry in a country exposes it to more interference

A study by the University of Bath has compared the presence of tobacco multinationals and their subsidiaries around the world with their interference in anti-smoking policies. It shows that this interference increases in a country when these companies are present there. The authors recommend that states pay more attention to all the structures that contribute to the supply of tobacco products.

Tobacco control policies around the world are under threat from tobacco industry interference. It has been repeatedly reported that anti-smoking measures have been lands by the lobby deployed by this industry. Among the arguments put forward by the latter is the preservation of employment, when it is established in the country. It is to verify this principle in a systematic and global way that researchers from the University of Bath have attempted to measure the correspondence between the presence of tobacco companies in a country and the interference of the tobacco industry in public policies[1].

Identify the actors in the tobacco production chain

The researchers first found that there was no comprehensive map of the location of subsidiaries of multinational tobacco companies. They focused on the four major tobacco companies (Philip Morris International, British American Tobacco, Japan Tobacco International, Imperial Brands) and all their subsidiaries. They added to this group the two multinationals specializing in the production of tobacco leaves (Pyxus, formerly Alliance One, and Universal Corp) and all their subsidiaries.

They relied on the Tobacco Supply Chain Database, which lists these structures.[2], to draw up a map of them. Other sources, such as the annual reports of these companies or their websites, helped to establish their family ties. Three levels of production were distinguished: the cultivation of tobacco leaves, the processing of these tobacco leaves and the manufacture of tobacco products, sectors which can be divided into separate countries. All types of tobacco products were included, with the exception of heated tobacco.

The team of researchers then compared these data with those from the Global Tobacco Industry Interference Index[3]Published every two years, this index inventories the interference of tobacco industry in public policies. 76 of the 80 countries making up the 2021 edition of this index were included in the analysis.

Correlation between the presence of industry and its interference

The study results indicate that 47 countries have tobacco industry subsidiaries involved in tobacco cultivation, 51 countries have structures involved in tobacco leaf processing and 74 countries have companies involved in tobacco product manufacturing. The latter were mostly located in Europe and North Africa.

The researchers found that tobacco industry interference was significantly higher in countries with tobacco industry subsidiaries and affiliates. Interference increased with the number of tobacco industry entities in the country. It was associated with lower effectiveness of tobacco control measures, particularly in terms of advertising bans and health warnings on packaging.

Low- and middle-income countries are more vulnerable to interference

According to the authors of the study, the presence of tobacco industry players in a country promotes their integration into the decision-making circles of public bodies, particularly those related to trade, finance and exports. This presence also facilitates the deployment of corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities, which mainly benefit manufacturers and have very little impact on the country concerned. The influence of manufacturers would be particularly evident when tobacco exports make up a significant share of a country's total exports, even if the economic benefits local tobacco sector figures are ultimately very meager.

The authors therefore call on states, particularly those in low- and middle-income countries, to consider more carefully the investments and establishment of tobacco industry subsidiaries. Their presence on their territory can indeed mean a deterioration in the health and environmental situation. The authors also suggest that countries require tobacco multinationals to disclose all the subsidiaries and structures with which they operate. Finally, they invite tobacco control actors to take a closer look at the supply and not just the demand for tobacco products.

Although they tried to include as many tobacco players as possible in their analysis, the authors acknowledge that they mainly considered tobacco exports, to the detriment of tobacco product sales data. Many players, such as distributors and resellers of tobacco products, are therefore not taken into account. The authors also admit that by focusing on tobacco multinationals, they did not include local cigarette manufacturers and state monopolies, which also interfere in anti-smoking policies.

Keywords: tobacco multinationals, interference, public policies, lobbying

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[1] Rosemary Hiscock, Hala Alaouie, Britta K Matthes, John Mehegan, Michael J Bloomfield, Hosting the Tobacco Industry Supply Chain and Political Interference, Nicotine & Tobacco Research, 2023;, ntad178, https://doi.org/10.1093/ntr/ntad178

[2] Tobacco Supply Chain Database, STOP, October 2021.

[3] Assunta M, Global Tobacco Industry Interference Index 2021. Global Center for Good Governance in Tobacco Control (GGTC), November 2021, 72 p.