In Senegal, protection against the tobacco lobby remains incomplete

The Senegalese League Against Tobacco (Listab) denounces in a report the inertia of the government and tobacco industry interference to slow the implementation of anti-smoking laws in Senegal.

On March 28, 2014, Senegal adopted an anti-smoking law that, in principle, prohibits any contact between public authorities and the tobacco industry. Several deviations from this law by the Senegalese public authorities, favoring the interests of the industry, have undermined the country's commitment to tobacco control.

Permeability to tobacco industry arguments

Tobacco imports have thus been favored in two ways. First, through the Tax Code, which exempts tobacco imports from taxes and thereby promotes the illicit trade of cigarettes to other African countries, and even to Europe. It has indeed been shown, for example in South Africa, that imports exceeding domestic consumption are primarily intended to fuel not only cross-border trade, but also smuggling networks. Second, international travelers can continue to import duty-free tobacco, in the amount of 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars, or 250g of tobacco, which reduces the scope of increases in tobacco products.

Despite the law prohibiting contact with the tobacco industry and its interference in public policy, the government also authorized Philip Morris International (PMI) to finance the construction of several classrooms in a village primary school with US$53,000 in 2018. During the 2020 COVID-19 health crisis, it also received one billion CFA francs (€1.5 million) in aid to fight the pandemic from Mohamed Ould Bouamatou, a Mauritanian billionaire who made his fortune from selling cigarettes.[1].

According to Listab, the actions taken by the tobacco industry have allowed it to delay the implementation of several measures, such as the placing of health warnings on cigarette packets or the increase of certain taxes.[2]. Senegal, however, remains fairly well rated by the Global Tobacco Industry Interference Index 2021 in terms of resistance to tobacco industry interference, but only obtains a very insufficient score due to a lack of transparency.[3]A recent decree thus indicates that the Senegalese State has decided to adopt the Codentify system for the traceability of tobacco products, which is inspired and piloted by the tobacco industry; this episode suggests that contacts are indeed taking place between the industry and certain members of the government, and indicates that the ministries of this government have apparently not consulted on this subject since the positions of the Ministry of Health do not seem to have been heard.

Tobacco taxation, a decisive lever for anti-smoking actions

The Senegalese League Against Tobacco, however, does not intend to remain a spectator to these actions. For example, on November 18, 2021, it organized a workshop for media professionals at the Ministry of Health to draw their attention and strengthen their skills on tobacco taxation issues.[4]The association also called for an increase of 225 CFA francs in the ad valorem tax (declared value in local currency) per packet of cigarettes, in order to reduce the prevalence of smoking by 10% and to finance a fund to support the fight against tobacco. "We need resources to be able to continue fighting because we are facing very powerful lobbies.", said Djibril Wellé, executive secretary of Listab, adding that "At the same time, tax revenues would increase by more than 18 billion [CFA francs] per year." It has indeed been shown that high taxation and significant increases in the price of tobacco products are the best ways to reduce smoking prevalence while allowing an increase in tax revenues.

According to a study conducted in 2017-2018 by the Consortium for Economic and Social Research (CRES), a think tank based in Dakar, the total annual cost of smoking for Senegal is estimated at 122 billion CFA francs (186 million euros), of which 74 billion is for health costs alone.[5]This cost is borne to the tune of 51 billion by the State and 71 billion by households.

Keywords: Senegal, taxation, Listab, interference

©Generation Without Tobacco

MF

---

[1] Diatta V, Listab denounces the tobacco industry's indifference, Enquête Plus, published November 26, 2021, accessed November 29, 2021. [2] Senegalese League Against Tobacco, Senegal: Tobacco Industry Interference Index 2021, accessed November 29, 2021. [3] Mary Assunta. Global Tobacco Industry Interference Index 2021. Global Center for Good Governance in Tobacco Control (GGTC). Bangkok, Thailand, Nov 2021. [4] Dieng MD, Anti-tobacco campaigners demand an increase in the tax of 225 CFA francs per pack of cigarettes, SenePlus, published November 19, 2021, accessed November 29, 2021. [5] Consortium for Economic and Social Research, Taxation: the best lever to combat the harmful effects of tobacco products, July 2018, accessed November 29, 2021. National Committee Against Smoking |