The Duty-Free Tobacco Sector and Lobby

What is the Duty-Free Tobacco Sector? The duty-free industry is comprised of global, regional, and national operators that sell goods to international travellers which are exempt from paying certain local or national taxes and excise duties. Duty-free shops are located in places such as international airports, seaports, train stations, and cruise ships. As they operate in different jurisdictions, the rules…

Health Diplomats is a consultancy run by Delon Human, a South African doctor who has collaborated with BAT on its “tobacco harm reduction” activities.3738394041 The Health Diplomats website states that it “deliver[s] solutions by advising clients on strategy, science, policy, consumer behaviour, innovation and dynamic stakeholder engagement.”42 It has “partnered” with British…

The Global Institute for Novel Nicotine (GINN) states that it is “a membership-based association dedicated to advancing collaborative standards, innovation, research, and advocacy in the field of alternative nicotine products.”124125126 Background GINN launched in March 2024. Its original website (the-ginn.com) stated that it was “dedicated to positioning itself as the industry’s primary advocate for non-vaping reduced-risk…

Background The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) is an international treaty that aims to reduce the supply and demand of tobacco. The WHO FCTC includes a specific obligation, Article 5.3, requiring Parties to protect public health policies from the commercial and vested interests of the tobacco industry. More information on Article 5.3 and tobacco industry…

The Global Tobacco and Nicotine Forum (GTNF) is an annual tobacco industry conference. GTNF 2025 was a hybrid event that took place virtually, and in Belgium for in-person delegates, from 06-08 October 2025.318319 The following speakers, panellists and moderators were listed on the GTNF 2025 website:320 Alexander Kupatadze – King’s College London Atheer Al Bin Ali – Chief…

Dentists, like doctors, pharmacists and other health professionals, have long been targeted by tobacco companies, to help promote their products and to attempt to build trust and credibility. The tobacco industry also has a long history of attempting to influence science and medical practice, primarily in the service of their own business goals. Despite the fact that most oral…

The Global Forum on Nicotine (GFN), which typically takes place annually in Poland, focuses on new nicotine products and ‘tobacco harm reduction.’ The GFN is organised by Global Forum on Nicotine Limited,391 which was known as KAC Communications until November 2024.392 For more information, please see the main Global Forum on Nicotine page. The GFN 2025 was…

‘Quit Like Sweden’ is a campaign established in 2024,6970 and launched in Brazil.398399 Background Quit Like Sweden’s website states that “Sweden has similar measures and programmes focused on smoking cessation and prevention to many countries around the world, but what sets Sweden apart is its comprehensive approach, which includes enabling people who smoke to choose…

The Snus Commission website states that it is an “independent commission that produces reports on issues related to Swedish snus”.439 (Note that in Sweden the term snus can also be used in relation to ‘white snus’, which does not contain tobacco leaf. This is more commonly referred to as a nicotine pouch outside of Sweden.) Relationship to…

Image source: Number 10 | CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 Key Points Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe, part of the World Health Organization’s European Region. In 2023, Ukraine had a population of 38 million. The same year, a national survey found current tobacco use prevalence of 27%. Ukraine ratified the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control…