{"id":21174,"date":"2023-09-10T08:00:51","date_gmt":"2023-09-10T06:00:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.generationsanstabac.org\/actualites\/suivi-et-tracabilite-des-produits-du-tabac-lingerence-de-lindustrie-du-tabac-reste-majeure\/"},"modified":"2023-09-10T08:00:51","modified_gmt":"2023-09-10T06:00:51","slug":"suivi-et-tracabilite-des-produits-du-tabac-lingerence-de-lindustrie-du-tabac-reste-majeure","status":"publish","type":"actualites","link":"https:\/\/www.generationsanstabac.org\/en\/actualites\/suivi-et-tracabilite-des-produits-du-tabac-lingerence-de-lindustrie-du-tabac-reste-majeure\/","title":{"rendered":"Monitoring and tracing of tobacco products: tobacco industry interference remains major"},"content":{"rendered":"

In a recent report, Luk Joossens, a consultant for the European organization Smoke Free Partnership, assesses the implementation of the tracking and tracing system in signatory countries to the WHO FCTC protocol aimed at eliminating illicit trade in tobacco products. The report shows that various forms of tobacco industry interference remain high among the Parties.<\/em><\/p>\n

THE Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products<\/a> was negotiated by the Parties to the WHO Framework Convention and was adopted by consensus on 12 November 2012 at the fifth session of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the treaty. The protocol entered into force on 25 September 2018 and by the end of May 2023 had 67 parties. Among the provisions of this legally binding text are a set of measures to control the supply and supply chain of products. These measures include the establishment of a system for tracking and tracing products from their manufacture to their delivery to the retailer.<\/p>\n

The third session of the MOP, Meeting of the Parties to the Protocol, is to be held in Panama next November and this report aims to take stock of the situation with recommendations.<\/p>\n

Tobacco industry interference remains strong <\/strong><\/h2>\n

The WHO treaty and the associated protocol recall the existence of an "irreconcilable conflict" between the interests of the tobacco industry and those of public health, including in particular the issue of combating parallel markets. The protocol thus specifies that Parties must not delegate any of their obligations regarding tracking and tracing to the tobacco industry. In addition, the authorities of the Parties involved in tracking and tracing regimes must only be in contact with the tobacco industry and its representatives "to the extent strictly necessary" to implement the requirements of Article 8 of the Protocol on this measure.<\/p>\n

The report's author points out that the tobacco industry has a long history of involvement in the illicit trade of these products, and that the industry continues to seek to control the debate on illicit trade in order to influence policies worldwide. Luk Joossens also points out that manufacturers have a vested interest in maintaining control over supply chains. With this in mind, the tobacco industry is working to influence legislation. Regarding the implementation of the protocol, which clearly excludes it, it is using front groups to promote its own technological tracking and tracing system. This system was initially known as Codentify and later changed its name to Inexto Suite. This tool is considered ineffective, opaque, and inefficient by tobacco control stakeholders.<\/p>\n

This interference by manufacturers remains a major obstacle to the establishment of an effective tracking and tracing system in many countries. It prevents the adoption of a system that is independent directly and indirectly from manufacturers. Low- and middle-income countries are particularly affected, where industry manages to impose its own systems. However, the European tracking and tracing system adopted before the ratification of the WHO Protocol by the European Union is also not independent from manufacturers and, according to the author, would need to be revised.<\/p>\n

The study therefore recommends that the Parties not collaborate, directly or indirectly, with the tobacco industry and its allies in the implementation of the system at all levels of the supply chain: from the software for generating unique identifiers, to auditing, including management and access to databases, control mechanisms at the manufacturing site, etc.<\/p>\n

A Protocol that is struggling to be effectively implemented <\/strong><\/h2>\n

To date, the author notes that 67 countries have ratified the text of the protocol. In order for its provisions to be fully effective at the international level, more countries should become Parties to it.<\/p>\n

Furthermore, for countries already committed, implementation of the text is proving challenging for many. According to the report, information on the characteristics of existing tracking and tracing systems in many countries remains limited. In addition to tobacco industry interference, many countries have indicated that they need more resources and technical assistance to effectively implement the Protocol's technical measures. In this regard, the financial costs could eventually be covered, as countries recognize "that once tracking and tracing systems are in place, these could help cover some of the costs of implementing and maintaining the implementation of the Protocol." <\/em> Indeed, the fight against illicit trade makes it possible to increase tax revenues while strengthening the effectiveness of health policies.<\/p>\n

The author also points out that reliable information on the characteristics of existing tracking and tracing systems in many Parties remains limited. Better knowledge and assessment of current systems could help identify best practices and facilitate the establishment of tracking and tracing systems in future Parties to the Protocol.<\/p>\n

Read the report in French (PDF)<\/a><\/p>\n

Read the report in English (original)<\/a><\/p>\n

Keywords: Protocol to Combat Illicit Tobacco Trade, Tracking and Tracing System, Interference, FCTC, WHO<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a9Generation Without Tobacco<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

AE<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

National Committee Against Smoking |<\/a><\/strong><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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