Switzerland: Restriction of tobacco advertising

After several years of debate, the Swiss National Council considered the examination of the new legislation on tobacco products on 7 and 8 December.[1] which aims to protect young people from advertising for tobacco and nicotine products. Tobacco manufacturers are deploying a massive lobby for the attention of parliamentarians to counter the adoption of this text.

A first bill had failed in Parliament in 2016, mainly because of the measure banning tobacco advertising. The Federal Council revised its copy accordingly in November 2018, eliminating the new advertising restrictions from the first draft. Tired of the postponement of the bills and their lack of ambition, several public health associations then launched a popular initiative in 2019 " Yes to protecting children and young people from tobacco advertising" which aims to prevent all advertising for tobacco products reaching children and young people.

In September 2019, the Council of States proposed to ban advertising in magazines and on Internet, as well as the sponsorship by the tobacco industry of international events or events organized by the Confederation, cantons or the municipalities. This proposal, however, has serious limitations because promotion and sponsorship would still be possible for an adult audience. However, it is on this version that the National Council is called to decide. Several conservative political groups oppose these measures, arguing that the project constitutes an interference in the commercial freedom of companies and in the choices of citizens or that "the protection of minors must not be used as a pretext to introduce new bans on advertising for legal products..."[2].

Continued interference by tobacco industry in regulations

Tobacco manufacturers benefit from relays within the political class. Many parliamentarians systematically oppose attempts at regulation. Ahead of the debates on December 7 and 8, the tobacco industry sent its "recommendations"[3] to members of four of the six parliamentary groups in the National Council. The tobacco manufacturers are opposed to the ban on advertising tobacco and nicotine products on posters and on the internet. They are also opposed to the ban on additives (menthol) in tobacco products and do not want any restrictions on sponsorship for tobacco and nicotine products. Finally, they are opposed to Switzerland's accession to the WHO Framework Convention, an international treaty whose tobacco control measures would be legally binding on the country.

Switzerland is one of the last countries in the world not to have ratified the Framework Convention (FCTC), which it signed in 2004. It is home to the headquarters of two major tobacco multinationals, JTI (in Geneva) and PMI (in Lausanne). The latter company also has its global research centre in Switzerland (in Neuchâtel). All three multinationals, BAT, JTI and PMI, have cigarette manufacturing plants in Switzerland, of which approximately two-thirds of production is exported. By opposing the FCTC, the tobacco industry is opposing the implementation of measures that have been proven to be effective in reducing tobacco consumption. The FCTC treaty has been evaluated and it has been shown that its implementation has saved and continues to save millions of lives. Currently, more than a quarter of the Swiss population smokes (27 %). The proportion of smokers is 32% among 15-24 year olds and 36% for 25-34 year olds. These very high proportions have remained unchanged for ten years.[4]. Smoking causes 9,500 premature deaths in the country each year. And these figures may be significantly underestimated compared to reality.[5]

Keywords: Switzerland, advertising, promotion, tobacco products

©Tobacco Free Generation

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[1] Tobacco advertising should be restricted, Le Matin, December 7, 2020, consulted on December 8, 2020[2] Kompromiss bei Tabakwerbung zeichnet sich ab, Swiss Radio and Television, December 8, 2020, accessed the same day[3] Tobacco advertising and protection against passive smoking: tobacco lobby demands radical step back from the National Council, Swiss Association for the Prevention of Smoking, December 4, 2020, consulted on December 8, 2020[4] Generation Without Tobacco, In Switzerland, 36% of 25-34 year olds are smokers, February 21, 2020, accessed December 8, 2020[5] Jakob J, Cornuz J, Diethelm P. Prevalence of tobacco smoking in Switzerland: do reported numbers underestimate reality. Swiss Med Wkly. 2017;147:w14437.National Committee Against Smoking |