35 African associations demand the exclusion of Philip Morris from the African Trade and Customs Week

35 organizations from 23 African countries have denounced the participation of the manufacturer Philip Morris International (PMI) in the “Africa Trade & Customs Week 2022” summit. They have called for the withdrawal of the tobacco multinational from all its commitments related to the summit which is scheduled to be held from November 7 to 9, 2022 in Sandton, Johannesburg, South Africa.[1].

The African Trade and Customs Week will bring together world-renowned experts and high-level decision-makers from multilateral agencies, various government ministries and agencies, and private sector organizations from all sectors of activity. On the event website, Alessandro Maria Poggiali, Vice President Corporate Affairs for the Middle East, Africa and Duty-Free at Philip Morris International (PMI), is listed as a speaker at the meeting on the theme “ Market access for goods entering and leaving Africa ", alongside the COMESA Director, the Vice President of the French company Bureau Veritas and the General Manager of Operations of the African company AeTrade Group.

In a petition dated 21 October 2022, the organisations note their concern that the presence of the tobacco company constitutes a violation of the World Health Organisation Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC). It is also a violation of South Africa’s current tobacco control legislation, namely the Tobacco Products Control Act 83 of 1993.

Participation contrary to South Africa's commitments

The petition states that as a party to the FCTC, South Africa is bound by Article 5.3 of the treaty, which stresses that public policies should not be "influenced by the commercial and other interests of the tobacco industry". Specific implementing guidelines for this obligation include that government interactions with representatives of the tobacco industry should be limited to what is strictly necessary for the regulation of tobacco products and the tobacco industry and that where such interactions exist, they should be transparent. This petition also recalls current South African legislation which states that " No manufacturer, importer, distributor or retailer of tobacco products shall organise or promote any organised activity, to be held in whole or in part in the Republic, or make any financial contribution to any organised activity to be held, taking place or having taken place in whole or in part in the Republic. ".

Philip Morris's attempt to get into the discussion table

PMI's participation in the African summit comes as South Africa's Tobacco Control and Nicotine Products Regulation Bill is about to be submitted to Parliament for a vote. The bill has been met with strong opposition from the tobacco industry. The 35 organisations suspect that Philip Morris International's decision to sponsor such a high-profile summit is a strategy to gain access to tax policymakers in order to influence government policy.

The organizations called on South Africa to instead ensure effective implementation of the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products, which provides for measures to effectively track and trace the movement of tobacco products within the country and across borders. South Africa has not made progress in implementing the protocol it signed in 2013.

South Africa is one of the top 10 countries at risk of tobacco industry interference and, according to the latest Global Tobacco Industry Interference Report^[2], published in late 2021, the situation in South Africa continues to deteriorate in terms of the fight against the tobacco industry lobby. The report particularly denounced the existence of unnecessary relationships between members of the government and the tobacco industry.

The necessary mobilization of health actors in the world to oust the tobacco industry

Philip Morris has been excluded from several national and international meetings in recent years thanks to the rapid mobilization of various public health stakeholders. Last September, Philip Morris was ousted from the 7th South African Tuberculosis Conference[3] following the rapid mobilization of several actors including the WHO and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation who had then refused to participate in the event if the presence of the cigarette manufacturer was maintained. In May 2021[4], Philip Morris' participation in the tenth anniversary of the Dialogues on Inclusion and CSR had also been cancelled, following the mobilisation of public health stakeholders in France and internationally. A month earlier[5], Philip Morris had been ousted from the 26The International Conference on the Future of Asia (Nikkei, Japan) – a global gathering where leading leaders and academics come together to discuss regional issues and Asia's position in the world – following the international mobilization of several public health organizations.

The tobacco company's participation in these meetings is part of the tobacco company's strategy to rehabilitate its image. The ultimate goal is to influence international institutions and political elites in a way that is favorable to its interests. In seeking these opportunities, the tobacco industry is actively working to undermine the efforts of the WHO FCTC to reduce tobacco consumption.

Keywords: South Africa, Philip Morris, Africa, CCLAT, WHO, Lobby, Interference

©Tobacco Free Generation

AE

  [1] Press release, 35 organizations from 23 African countries call for the withdrawal of Philip Morris International (PMI) from all engagements related to the Africa Trade & Customs Week Summit 2022, ATCA, published November 2, 2022, accessed November 7, 2022 [2] Tobacco Industry Interference Index, South Africa 2021, September 2021, accessed November 7, 2022 [3] Generation without tobacco, Philip Morris ejected from tuberculosis conference, published on September 19, 2022, consulted on November 7, 2022 [4] Generation without tobacco, France: Bitter defeat for Philip Morris, published on May 26, 2021, consulted on November 7, 2021 [5] Generation without tobacco, International Conference “The Future of Asia”: Philip Morris ousted, published on May 17, 2021, consulted on November 7, 2022 National Committee Against Smoking |