STOP Identifies 18 New Organizations as Close to Tobacco Industry

The partnership STOP (Stopping Tobacco Organizations & Products) has just announced that it has added 18 new organizations from 10 countries to its list of industry allies.[1] ; they are either front groups or third-party organizations promoting tobacco industry products while claiming to be independent. While smoking is declining in wealthy countries, it continues to increase in many low- and middle-income countries that lack strong public health policies.It is essential to expose organizations that appear independent but are actually helping the tobacco industry undermine these policies. " said Anna Gilmore, director of the Tobacco Control Research Group at University of Bath and STOP Partner The STOP Industry Allies List was launched in 2019, exposing nearly 100 groups in 27 countries. This recent update includes organizations whose efforts focus on low- and middle-income countries, some of which have large populations and high smoking rates. Six countries are new to the list: Bangladesh, Brazil, Mexico, the Philippines, Turkey, and Ukraine. The organizations on the list receive funding or support from the tobacco industry in exchange for promoting pro-tobacco policy positions, including opposing tobacco control laws (tobacco tax increases, health warnings on packaging, restrictions on marketing to youth, etc.). At the same time, these organizations contribute to the industry’s moral whitewashing. Examples include: - The International Center for Policy Studies, a Ukraine-based think tank that has received funding from Philip Morris International for projects related to the advancement of girls and women in Ukrainian politics. - The Brazilian Institute for Ethics and Competition, which has lobbied heavily against tax increases on tobacco products. It receives an undisclosed amount of funding from the Brazilian subsidiary of British American Tobacco. - The Foundation for the Elimination of Child Labor in Tobacco Farming, based in Switzerland, says it is “seeking collaborative solutions” to combat the exploitation of young workers in tobacco farming, particularly in Africa. The foundation was founded by British American Tobacco and until very recently worked to influence governments and international organizations such as the International Labor Organization[2]. ©Tobacco Free Generation

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[1] https://exposetobacco.org/tobacco-industry-allies/ [2] https://cnct.fr/actualites/ilo-oit-organisation-international-travail-financement-tabac/ | ©National Committee Against Smoking |