Latest African tobacco industry interference news
Press Release: Citizens voice strong support for Tobacco Control Bill, countering Tobacco Industry objections
Public hearings on the Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill (B33-2022) hosted by the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Health reflect strong support for the proposed new tobacco control legislation. Hearings concluded in Limpopo over the weekend, following hearings in North West Province earlier this month. Protect our Next partner organisations, representing diverse public health and […]
Tobacco Smoking Contributes to Food Insecurity: WORLD NO TOBACCO DAY 2023
Tobacco control advocates throughout the world have dedicated today, May 31, 2023, to commemorate World No Tobacco Day. An annual event aimed at raising awareness about the dangers of tobacco use. This year’s theme is “We need food and not tobacco,” which emphasizes how tobacco farming and use robs food from individuals while it seeks to educate the […]
Early findings from an ongoing E-cigarette study suggest the urgent need to close the regulatory gap in advertisement and marketing to youth
The Africa Centre for Tobacco Industry Monitoring and Policy Research (ATIM) has released early data from an online survey of young adults aged 18 to 34 conducted in 2021 and trends in purchase channels and sales volume between 2019 and 2022. These major findings were presented during the Protect Our Next Press Conference on May […]
E-cigarettes glamorized on social media – putting youth at risk
Social media platforms such as Instagram, TikTok and Facebook used to overwhelmingly show the use of e-cigarettes in a positive light, undoing some of the positive work done to ban the advertising of traditional tobacco. According to Curtin University’s research, young people who see social media posts featuring e-cigarettes are more likely to vape and […]
Pharma, tech and social media companies join forces with WHO to launch the Tobacco Cessation Consortium during World Health Summit in Berlin, Germany
At the World Health Summit in Berlin, WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus formally launched the Tobacco Cessation Consortium, a group of private and public sector partners dedicated to helping people access essential smoking cessation support and treatment. This consortium will support WHO’s efforts to stop smoking and find mutually beneficial ways to expand access […]
Walking The Talk by Budgeting for Tobacco Control
Observing the commendable progress of tobacco control in Nigeria, the federal government is urged to apply an acceptable and sustained budget for tobacco control. The 2022 Tobacco Atlas indicates that nearly $ 2 trillion is spent annually on healthcare costs worldwide, causing product loss from unseasonable death and sickness as a result of tobacco. In […]
E-cigarettes are becoming more and more popular among minors
Cape Town – Western Cape Education Department raises concerns over the rising number of young children caught in possession of e-cigarettes. Children as young as 11-year-old were reportedly found experimenting with e-cigarettes on school grounds, while more cases like these go unreported. This calls for immediate regulation of e-cigarettes in South Africa to protect children […]
The Department of Health has gazetted the explanatory notes for the Control of Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Bill
The Department of Health intends to introduce the Bill to the National Assembly in the coming weeks. Checkout Prof Lekan Ayo-Yusuf’s commentary in an interview with Newzroom Afrika below.
Health minister drops no butt in tobacco bill
Joe Phaahla gives virtually no concessions to manufacturers of devices such as e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches Published 29 SEPTEMBER 2022, Updated 30 September 2022 Health minister Joe Phaahla has stood firm against industry pressure to take a softer stance on new generation tobacco products and tabled a bill in parliament that not only proposes tough […]
What is Article 5.3 and why is it important?
Understanding the convention articles
Article 5.3 is the section of the Framework Convention for Tobacco Control which provides guidance on how to handle interference from the tobacco industry. There are four principles:
* There is a fundamental and irreconcilable conflict between the tobacco industry’s interests and public health policy interests.
* Parties, when dealing with the tobacco industry or those working to further its interests, should be accountable and transparent.
* Parties should require the tobacco industry and those working to further its interests to operate and act in a manner that is accountable and transparent.
* Because their products are lethal, the tobacco industry should not be granted incentives to establish or run their businesses.
Under these guidelines, there are eight recommendations. These include:
* Raise awareness about tobacco industry interference among all those working in all branches of government and among the public.
* Avoid any interaction with the tobacco industry except where necessary to enable them to effectively regulate tobacco products and the tobacco industry. Where interactions do take place, they must be conducted transparently.
* Reject partnerships, non-binding or non-enforceable agreements with the industry, including voluntary codes of conduct, industry-sponsored tobacco control initiatives or industry offers to assist with the development of tobacco control legislation or policy.
* Develop clear policies on avoidance of conflicts of interest for government officials, employees, consultants and contractors. A wide range of specific steps are recommended within the guidelines.
* Require disclosure of information by the tobacco industry to promote transparency. This must include tobacco production, manufacture, sales and content, as well as industry lobbying, philanthropy, political donations.
* Denormalise and regulate activities described by the industry as “socially responsible” and expose the real intent – such as making the industry seem benevolent towards the population – behind these activities. ‚
* Do not give any benefits, tax exemptions or other incentives to the tobacco industry.
* Treat any state-owned tobacco industry no differently from privately-owned tobacco companies