Here’s how big tobacco manipulates negotiations

One should be very wary of the tobacco industry’s  interference in World Health Organisation Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC), Conference of the Parties (COP), which is being hosted by India this year warns the international community. 

Big tobacco players are lobbying very hard with the Indian government to get a place in the negotiations but WHO has clearly declined them permit. 

This is a problem as tobacco industries attend COP to get a clear insight of the upcoming moves.

Cloe Franko, Senior International Organizer, Challenge Big Tobacco, Corporate Accountability International told DNA that the  tobacco industry is notorious for infiltrating negotiations. 

“In previous COPs they have entered as nation party delegations or as members of the public. Currently, there is no screening process of party delegations and industry delegations manage to secure invitation as party delegations,” said Franko. 

“Also, public badges are given on first come first serve basis. They line up early in the morning at the venue to receive most badges and roam freely in the venue. They get an opportunity to manipulate delegates and access confidential documents developed in side meeting during the process.”

In a survey which was conducted last year, it was found that 23 out of 28 people willing to identify in public gallery overlooking negotiations were from industry. 

“British American Tobacco, Japan Tobacco International, Phillip Morris International, Imperial Tobacco amongst other were identified. They are the largest and most powerful transnational companies. As a result, public was ejected out of final talks. This year this is anticipated to happen again unless we protect the policy-making space,” Franko said. 

Samuel Ochieng, Chief Executive Officer of Consumer Information Network from Kenya believes that Industry dilutes, derails, and defeats the purpose and should be kept out of health policy making. 

“We are fighting cases against British American Tobacco (BAT) in Kenya. BAT sued the Kenyan Minister of Health to bring about a stay on anti-tobacco regulations which were to be put in place last June. It has allegedly indulged in bribery of government officials in Kenya, Uganda and Burundi to ensure no legislation is put in place.”

Two years ago, in COP5 held in Seoul, South Korea, BAT followed the delegation to Kenya and later sent letters to Minister of Foreign Affairs that the position that Kenyan Government was taking was not the position that was agreed to.

 “We have to watch out for all these issues when we go to India. They are trying to manipulate and influence positions to COP. They will sneak in as part of delegations as expats, officials, and consultants. We have to watch out for this,” said Ochieng. He further said, in a BAT annual general meeting, a budget of 100,000 sterling pounds was demarcated for what is called ‘political donations.’ 

“This is legitimizing bribery and corruption. For example, Kenya goes to polls this month. We have to be very careful of the country positions, the delegations, where the money comes from, who is sponsoring whom here,” Ocheing warns. 

“We can never partner with tobacco industry to make control policies or implement them, role of industry is the biggest obstacle to implementing FCTC,” Stella Bialous, advisor to the World Health Organization.