Concordia ends collaboration with Philip Morris, at the request of healthcare stakeholders

Concordia, a non-governmental organization whose annual summit brings together public and private stakeholders, declared on September 16, 2023 that it no longer wishes to collaborate with Philip Morris International (PMI). Several health stakeholders, including the WHO, had warned of this strategy by the cigarette manufacturer in an attempt to influence decision-makers and public policies.

Held every year since 2011 on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, the annual summit of Concordia, an international organization aiming to influence public policies, which brings together actors from the public and private sectors to discuss major current issues. Among the issues addressed are environmental sustainability, health challenges, human rights and the place of technology in the economy.[1].

PMI had become a patron of Concordia

Already in 2018, the financing of this event by Philip Morris International (PMI) had been called into question by the Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO), who had refused to participate in this summit.

This year's scheduled speech by PMI CEO Jacek Olczak was canceled on September 16, 2023, after several health experts threatened not to participate in the event alongside the tobacco company.[2]. Concordia also announced that it was canceling PMI’s membership, which had become a “Patron member” from 2020 to 2023, and was immediately ending its collaboration with this industrialist. PMI had in fact organized roundtables and interventions by its leaders at several annual Concordia summits, from 2018 to 2022, during which it had presented its vision for reducing tobacco-related risks.[3]. During the same period, PMI also participated in various regional Concordia events on illicit trade, in Africa and Latin America.[4].

A lobbying strategy on public policies

Public health stakeholders (STOP, ASH-USA, NCD Alliance, The Union, GGTC, Vital Strategies, etc.) applauded this decision. They stressed that, like other tobacco multinationals, PMI is at the origin of the health, environmental or social problems that it claims to want to solve. They also pointed out that cigarette companies have no place in this type of body, which serves as a platform for them to promote their commercial interests and lobby decision-makers in order to influence public policies.

Keywords: Concordia, annual summit, PMI, lobbying.

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[1] Concordia Annual Summit 2023, accessed September 20, 2023.

[2] Concordia Ends Relationship with Philip Morris International Following Response from Public Health Leaders, STOP, published September 19, 2023, accessed September 20, 2023.

[3] Concordia, Tobacco Tactics, updated September 19, 2023, accessed September 20, 2023.

[4] Organizations linked to PMI IMPACT, Tobacco Tactics, updated January 18, 2023, accessed September 20, 2023.