ACTA urges African countries to resist tobacco industry pressure amid Covid 19 crisis

As the COVID-19 pandemic mobilizes countries around the world, the African tobacco control community is seeing the use of this crisis situation by tobacco multinationals. As in other countries, more and more voices are being raised within African countries to warn of this extremely dangerous situation. Tobacco manufacturers are indeed taking advantage of the current pandemic to engage in actions aimed at improving their image or to counter governments that wish to restrict or completely ban the sale of tobacco products in order to reduce the effects of the disease. South Africa, for example, is one of the countries that has banned cigarettes as part of its strategy to combat the virus. However, the South African branch of British American Tobacco has urged the government to reconsider this decision, while an association[1] controlled by the tobacco industry has announced that it will sue the South African government for maintaining the ban. In Kenya, following pressure from the industry, the authorities have included tobacco in the list of essential products during the lockdown to contain COVID-19. Tobacco companies are also pushing to offer partnerships. However, the tobacco industry is undermining the credibility of governments in protecting the health of the population. There is indeed a fundamental and irreconcilable conflict between the interests of the tobacco industry and the general interest of public health policies.[2]. The tobacco industry is trying to be part of the solution, by offering support and donations to countries. It is thus communicating with the media and decision-makers to improve its image by aiming to appear as a responsible actor, socially committed to the population. The Alliance for Tobacco Control in Africa (ACTA) calls on the African tobacco control community to be vigilant during this period and also calls on public authorities to protect themselves from this form of interference by the tobacco industry. ACTA recalls that the sole purpose pursued by manufacturers is to make their products available and attractive in order to increase consumption. It is of the utmost importance, according to ACTA, that African countries respond to this call and do not allow the tobacco industry to gain the ability to influence tobacco control policies in the future, thanks to the assistance offered today to deal with COVID-19. In this regard, Chad offers a much safer approach that could be followed by other countries. The country has set up a mechanism for financing the health system based on tobacco product taxation and has strictly refused any more or less promotional approach from manufacturers regarding this health crisis.ACTA Press Release©Tobacco Free Generation

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[1] https://citizen.co.za/business/business-news/2271089/tobacco-association-announces-it-will-launch-a-legal-challenge-of-cigarette-ban/[2] https://www.who.int/fctc/guidelines/article_5_3_fr.pdfNational Committee Against Smoking |