The Foundation for a Smoke-Free World, established with nearly $1 billion from Philip Morris International, functions essentially as a front group for the tobacco company's interests.<\/p>\n
The appeals to the public health community were then repeatedly, firmly and publicly rejected, the interests of public health and those of the cigarette companies being irreconcilable:<\/p>\n
\u2013 WHO has made it clear that it will not partner with the Foundation;<\/strong><\/p>\n \u2013 The UN confirmed its policy of non-engagement;<\/strong><\/p>\n \u2013 More than 250 public health organizations and leaders have clearly indicated that the Foundation \u201cimplements Philip Morris\u2019 institutional relations strategy\u201d;<\/strong><\/p>\n \u2013 Its meetings aimed at engaging the public health community have been cancelled; and,<\/strong><\/p>\n \u2013 His claims for independence have been refuted.<\/strong><\/p>\n Yet, from its own website, the Foundation for a Smoke-Free World continues to pretend that its interests align with those of public health, and that its activities are in line with those of other health organizations. In fact, the Foundation is working to promote the interests of its sole funder, Philip Morris. The latter continues to oppose any public policy aimed at reducing tobacco consumption, particularly among young people. The University of Bath, which publishes its work on the website Tobacco Tactics<\/a>, or even the Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance<\/a> (SEATCA), or Stopping Tobacco Organizations and Products<\/a> (STOP) and Tobacco Free Portfolios<\/a> (TFP) are targets of the Foundation's attacks, in particular because these organizations of researchers and health professionals reveal and alert on the tobacco company's strategy. They thus continue research on the lobbying methods of this industry; they conduct observatories to monitor and document the practices of tobacco companies and they factually document, to public officials and other economic actors on the need to control the industry's activity and to disengage from the tobacco sector. At a time when Philip Morris's objective is to convince governments and international organizations that it has changed - while continuing to sell and promote its cigarettes and to counter the measures by reducing consumption - it is strategically advantageous for the foundation to pretend that it is linked to trusted organizations. But this is a facade that in no way corresponds to the actions and intentions of the tobacco company.<\/p>\n Some examples of attempted alliances <\/strong><\/p>\n In 2019, the foundation published an FAQ page for its so-called \u201cTobacco Transformation Index,\u201d claiming to \u201cshare common goals with organizations such as Tobacco Tactics and SEATCA.\u201d This reference has since been removed following a letter of warning from the University of Bath (which hosts Tobacco Tactics) and SEATCA.<\/p>\n More recently, in January 2020, the Foundation stated in a blog that the STOP and Tobacco Free Portfolios programs were \u201ccomplementary\u201d to those developed within the Foundation.<\/p>\n