11th tobacco industry observatory in the face of the COVID19 pandemic

The body STOP[1] has noted since the start of the pandemic a resurgence of activity of the tobacco industry in many countries around the world that it compiles through monthly or bimonthly observatories depending on the activity. This resurgence of the industry's presence is very closely linked to the Covid19 pandemic which allows it to develop an image policy and to undermine public policies that go against its interests.

The last two editions of the STOP observatories cover the months of November and December 2020 and the first quarter of the year 2021. They highlight the tobacco industry's strong involvement in public policies, particularly in South Africa, and its desire to present itself as a credible player in public health. Health-focused corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs are a key aspect of the tobacco industry's overall strategy.

The Tobacco Industry, Corporate Social Responsibility and “Science”

• A French pro-tobacco website published an article stating that the Spanish Ministry of Health has reached an agreement with Logista, a wholly consolidated subsidiary of Imperial Brands. The latter intervened for the distribution of the Pfizer vaccine to the Spanish autonomous communities. Logista negotiated several contracts allowing it to ensure the regional distribution of the vaccine in Madrid, Castilla-La Mancha and the Basque Country.
• Philip Morris International CEO Calantzopoulos participated in a roundtable discussion on the anti-covid vaccine alongside the Greek Prime Minister, Pfizer CEO and Deloitte CEO. According to a Greek media outlet, the Greek government has approached the tobacco industry to ask for financial support for the purchase of equipment for vaccination in the country.
• Philip Morris International continues to use the pandemic as an opportunity for greenwashing, attending the Asian Sustainability Conference to discuss improving air quality and reducing carbon emissions. Philip Morris International has highlighted the company’s commitment to climate action, inspired by the pandemic, saying that Philip Morris International aims to make all of its factories carbon neutral by 2030. Sustainability is the tobacco industry’s new marketing ploy to promote new products touted as “eco-friendly.”[2].

In South Africa, industry continues to oppose public health measures

In response to the health crisis, the South African government declared tobacco and vaping products non-essential and banned their sale between March 27 and August 17, 2020. This ban was deemed “unconstitutional and unnecessary” by the South African High Court in December 2020.[3] after BATSA filed a lawsuit against the government in June 2020[4] regarding this sale decision.

The Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs has appealed this unfavourable decision.[5]and the appeal was upheld by the High Court of Justice. British American Tobacco South Africa (BATSA) is opposing the court’s decision and has said the government should instead use the money from the appeal to combat illicit tobacco trade and the COVID outbreak in the country. According to a recent study published in the African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine[6], the government’s objective of protecting health and reducing pressure on health services during the pandemic has been fully achieved. The 5-month lockdown has reduced the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) pressure in the emergency department at George Regional Hospital in the Western Cape by approximately 70%[7].

In February 2021, the South African Minister of Finance announced an 8% increase in excise duty on tobacco products to discourage their consumption.[8]. In response BATSA warned the government that the increase in tobacco excise duty is a “dangerous mistake” given the growth in the illicit tobacco trade. The South African Tobacco Transformation Alliance (SATTA) also argued that tobacco traffickers would benefit from the increase in tobacco excise duty.[9]The tobacco industry regularly uses the argument of the development of illicit trade to counter anti-tobacco measures, particularly tax increases. However, contraband products are in particular those that come out of its factories and the broader involvement of the industry in parallel markets is now widely documented.[10]In late February, OCCRP revealed that BAT was fueling illicit trade in Mali.[11]The authors of the study said that the billions of contraband cigarettes came largely from South Africa. This lucrative trade funds jihadist groups and contributes to bloody conflicts in the region.

To read the first editions of the observatory

Keywords: STOP, COVID19, Interference, Tobacco industry, CSR, South Africa, BAT Photo credit: ©STR/EPA/Newscom/MaxPPP ©Tobacco Free Generation

---

[1] STOP is an international monitoring organization that tracks the tobacco industry's interference in public policy. [2] Generation Without Tobacco, “Sustainability”: BAT’s new marketing argument, March 12, accessed March 30, 2021 [3] Tobacco sales ban was unconstitutional and unnecessary, court finds, News 24, December 11, 2020, accessed March 30, 2021 [4] Generation Without Tobacco, South Africa: Tobacco lobby continues legal battle despite lifting of sales ban, August 18, 2020, accessed March 30, 2021 [5] High Court grants Dlamini-Zuma leave to appeal adverse tobacco ban judgment, Mail Guardian, March 1, 2021, accessed March 30, 2021 [6] Saieva P, Jenkins LS. When people do not 'Zol': Reduced emergency center attendance of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease during coronavirus disease 2019 lockdown with the accompanying tobacco sales ban in South Africa. Afr J Prm Health Care Fam Med. 2021;13(1), a2750. https://doi.org/10.4102/phcfm.v13i1.2750 [7] Generation Without Tobacco, In South Africa, tobacco ban relieves strain on hospitals, March 8, 2021, accessed March 30, 2021 [8] Princess Naidoo, South Africa Limits Tax Hikes to Virus-Hit Booze and Tobacco, Bloomberg, February 24, 2021, accessed March 30, 2021 [9] Alcohol, tobacco industries slam new 'punishing' taxes, Letaba Herald, February 25, 2021, accessed March 30, 2021 [10] Tobacco Free Generation, South Africa. Cigarette maker accused of smuggling during pandemic, September 17, 2020, accessed March 30, 2021 [11] Tobacco Free Generation, Tobacco industry, smuggling, organized crime and terrorism in Mali, March 2, 2021, accessed March 30, 2021 National Committee Against Smoking |