scholarly journals Calling on the European civil society to support global implementation of the WHO FCTC and its Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products

2016 ◽  
Vol 2 (April Supplement) ◽  
Author(s):  
Vera Luiza Da Costa e Silva
Keyword(s):  
Civil Society ◽  
Tobacco Products ◽  
Illicit Trade

scholarly journals Introduction of standardised packaging and availability of illicit cigarettes: a difference-in-difference analysis of European Union survey data 2015–2018

Thorax ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 76 (1) ◽  
pp. 89-91 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anthony A Laverty ◽  
Christopher Millett ◽  
Nicholas S Hopkinson ◽  
Filippos T Filippidis
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Survey Data ◽  
Tobacco Industry ◽  
Difference In Difference ◽  
Tobacco Products ◽  
Difference Analysis ◽  
Illicit Trade ◽  
European Union Countries ◽  
Before And After ◽  
The Uk

Standardised packaging of tobacco products is intended to reduce the appeal of smoking, but the tobacco industry claims this increases illicit trade. We examined the percentage of people reporting being offered illicit cigarettes before and after full implementation of standardised packaging in the UK, Ireland and France and compared this to other European Union countries. Reported ever illicit cigarette exposure fell from 19.8% to 18.1% between 2015 and 2018 in the three countries fully implementing the policy, and from 19.6% to 17.0% in control countries (p for difference=0.320). Standardised packaging does not appear to increase the availability of illicit cigarettes.

scholarly journals Turning a threat into an opportunity: British American Tobacco’s weakening of the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products

2021 ◽  
pp. tobaccocontrol-2020-055837
Author(s):  
Benoît Gomis ◽  
Allen William Andrew Gallagher ◽  
Andy Rowell ◽  
Anna B Gilmore
Keyword(s):  
Tobacco Products ◽  
Implementation Phase ◽  
Illicit Trade ◽  
Country Level ◽  
Tobacco Taxes ◽  
Philip Morris ◽  
National Implementation ◽  
Legal Costs ◽  
Illicit Tobacco Trade ◽  
Final Text

BackgroundPrevious research has outlined transnational tobacco company (TTC) efforts to undermine implementation of the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products (Protocol) and evidence of ongoing TTC complicity in the illicit tobacco trade (ITT). However, the industry’s views on the Protocol and role in its development are not well understood.MethodsSystematic searching and analysis of leaked documents—approximately 15 000 from British American Tobacco (BAT) and 35 from Philip Morris International, triangulated via searches of online resources and interviews with five stakeholders across academia, international organisations, governments, civil society and the private sector.FindingsEvidence indicates that after privately viewing the Protocol as a significant threat (2003), BAT worked to influence its content, while publicly signalling support for it (2007–2012), and was largely satisfied with the final text. BAT successfully pushed for a non-prescriptive text which enabled further country-level TTC influence during the Protocol’s implementation phase. The final text also reflected other BAT policy preferences, including preventing outright bans on duty-free sales and intermingling, and making it difficult to sanction and hold tobacco companies accountable for ongoing involvement in the ITT. TTC representatives were present during early Protocol negotiations, despite rules against this, and BAT obtained draft texts before they were public and paid at least one delegate to support its position.ConclusionsBAT’s primary interest in shaping the Protocol was to minimise its financial and legal costs for BAT while maximising potential costs to small competitors. These findings raise concern about the Protocol’s ability to control the ITT, particularly given TTCs’ intention to influence ongoing national implementation. An effective Protocol is vital to controlling both the ITT and ongoing tobacco industry involvement in it and, in turn, governments’ ability to increase tobacco taxes and thereby save lives.

The WHO Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products: A Next Step in International Control of Tobacco Products

2013 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 91-97
Author(s):  
Lukasz Gruszczynski
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Main Concern ◽  
International Level ◽  
Global Community ◽  
Tobacco Products ◽  
Illicit Trade

This report discusses the main provisions of the recently adopted WHO Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products. While recognizing the remarkable achievement of the global community in its efforts to curb illicit trade in tobacco products at the international level, the report also highlights those aspects of the Protocol that may undermine its effectiveness in the long–term perspective. In this context the enforcement capabilities of developing countries are cited as a main concern.

scholarly journals Contribution and Influence of the Civil Society for the New Health Warning Label of Tobacco Products in Brazil

2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement 2) ◽  
pp. 134s-134s
Author(s):  
M. Coutinho Marques de Pinho ◽  
C. Abreu Perez ◽  
C. Galhardo Ferreira Vianna
Keyword(s):  
Civil Society ◽  
Tobacco Control ◽  
Public Consultation ◽  
World Health ◽  
Warning Label ◽  
Health Warnings ◽  
National Agency ◽  
Tobacco Products ◽  
Health Warning ◽  
The World

Background and context: In April 2017, National Agency for Health Surveillance (Anvisa) launched a public consultation for the revision of Resolution Number 335/2003, on health warning labels. Aim: A group of representatives from civil society and tobacco control advocates in Brazil met in person and virtually to make contributions to the Anvisa´s proposal for new health warning label for tobacco products packages, considering the civil rights for participation and collaboration to Brazilian policies provided by public consultation. Strategy/Tactics: The advocates and researches consulted the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control of the World Health Organization and its Guideline for Article 11 (Packaging and Labeling of Tobacco Products) implementation adopted in 2008 based on scientific studies and successful experiences in other countries. In addition, international researchers and representatives of international institutions were also consulted to collect successful examples of health warnings in the world. Program/Policy process: In October 2017, the Anvisa Board of Directors at a public ordinary meeting approved the new health warnings and in December of the same year, published the new resolution about it. Outcomes: In a comparative analysis, even if all the recommendations made in the CP have not been complied with, the influence of the contributions of the group of tobacco control advocates to the final version of the warnings is evident. The main contributions considered by Anvisa were: 1) to increase the effectiveness of the health warnings using colored images instead of black and white images, 2) the use of yellow in the upper and lower tiers was also one of the points suggested by the group, and 3) the concept proposed by the group for side warnings was fully complied. What was learned: Civil society participation for the agency´s public policy implementation process is essential and has been possible through the regulatory agenda, public consultations and regular public meetings. However, as is expected, the regulated sector has been quite active. The group recognizes the importance of the Anvisa measure in proposing new health warnings, however, significant recommendations have not been adopted and it may interfere with the goals of the measure. Anvisa´s strategy of allowing the social participation is essential, in accordance with Universal Health System principles and must be maintained. Regarding to the next health warnings and messages on packages of tobacco products, it would be greater to consider higher frequency of updating the images and recover the scientific process of development of the 3rd round of health warnings labels coordinated by the National Institute of Cancer in 2007/2008.

Areas for improvement in the tobacco excise policy in Ukraine

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 (5) ◽  
pp. 82-96
Author(s):  
Mykhailo POLIAKOV ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Negative Impact ◽  
Tax Rates ◽  
Tobacco Products ◽  
Tax Rate ◽  
Excise Tax ◽  
Illicit Trade ◽  
Eu Member States ◽  
Excise Taxation ◽  
Business Entities ◽  
States Experience

The article analyses the ways to improve tobacco excise taxation in Ukraine considering a respective EU Member States experience, consequences of national reforms held in previous years, as well as challenges and potential threats caused by the pandemic. A worsening economic situation and the recent decline in income compounded the existing problems related to tobacco taxation in Ukraine. The increase of excise tax rate on cigarettes by 20% annually till 2025 and an inconsistent decision on more than four times increase of excise tax rates on electronically heated tobacco products (EHTP) pose a risk of boosting illicit trade. The advance payment of excise tax on imported tobacco products, in turn, negatively affects finances of importers due to the working capital diversion. Following that, the priority steps with regard to the excise policy of Ukraine should be aimed at: 1) revision of the existing plan of increasing tax rates on cigarettes by slowing down the growth of tax burden and simultaneous expansion of the plan till 2028; 2) correcting the burdensome reform on excise taxation of EHTP to establish more liberalized tax regime 3) switching to payment of excise tax on imported tobacco products during customs clearance. The mentioned initiatives taking into account a strong need to improve a fiscal situation in Ukraine due to the spread of COVID-19 will reduce a negative impact of increasing excise tax rates and administration procedures on tobacco industry. They will also prevent the growth of illicit trade in tobacco products and thus will contribute to improving the efficiency of tax system and strengthening the confidence of business entities.

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