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“
The
major tobacco companies have been accused of attempts to manipulate
and undermine the world’s first treaty to reduce the growing tobacco
epidemic worldwide – particularly in developing countries where
deaths will reach seven million a year by 2025. The
treaty, known as the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC),
has the potential to save millions of lives if successfully
implemented. The
report, “Big Tobacco's Attempts to Derail the Global Tobacco Treaty:
Cases from Battleground Countries”, accuses major companies
of meddling in health policy around the world
- including in many developing countries - by aggressively
using their economic muscle to derail the treaty process. The
report was produced by Corporate Accountability International (CAI), a
membership organization instrumental in the World Health
Organization’ initiative. The
report names corporations like Philip Morris (now Altria), British
American Tobacco (BAT), and Japan Tobacco International (JTI) among
the corporations seeking to undermine the treaty in the eleventh hour.
Health
advocates are urging governments to meet the November 8 deadline for
treaty ratification in order to vote at the first Conference of the
Parties - where governments will make major decisions about the
enforcement and implementation of the treaty. So far, 86
countries have ratified. The
report says tobacco corporations attempt to craft a "socially
responsible" image and claim publicly
to support the treaty, while encouraging policymakers to draft
legislation that would fail to fulfill the treaty's central
obligations - notably the ban on tobacco advertising, promotion and
sponsorship. The
report also points out that in some countries – including the USA -
that have not yet ratified the treaty, Big Tobacco is
aggressively increasing political interference and expanding
operations. Anne
Jones, Chief Executive of Action on Smoking and Health Australia,
says: “tobacco companies are actively promoting themselves as
‘socially responsible’ corporations whilst behind the scenes they
are undermining health policies – particularly in poorer countries. “Although
Australia has ratified the treaty, it is not immune to such
tactics,” she warns –
pointing out that tobacco companies are promoting themselves widely at
expert forums as “socially responsible” corporations; they have
also gained further delays to new health warnings for consumers as
well as a partial ban only on their use of misleading and deceptive
terms “light” and “mild” on tobacco products.
See
the CAI report at
www.ashaust.org.au/pdfs/FCTCunderm0510.pdf
Media inquiries:
Stafford Sanders ph.
(02) 9334-1823 m.
0412-070-194
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Page last updated 7/10/05 |
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