Australian Tobacco Harm Reduction Association (ATHRA)

The Australian Tobacco Harm Reduction Association (ATHRA) describes itself as a “registered health promotion charity established to improve public health by reducing the harm from tobacco smoking in Australia”.1 Background ATHRA was founded by four Australian health practitioners in October 2017.1 It  has regularly campaigned and lobbied to try to overturn the Australian Government’s ban on retail…

The Global Tobacco and Nicotine Forum (GTNF) is an annual tobacco industry conference. GTNF 2024 was a hybrid event that took place virtually, and in Athens for in-person delegates, from 24-26 September 2024.59 The following speakers, panellists and moderators were listed on the GTNF 2024 website:6061 Amrou Awaysheh – Indiana University Brad Rodu– University of Louisville School…

The following bulleted recommendations, all of which come from the implementation guidelines for Article 11 of the WHO FCTC, cover some of the main aspects to consider:65 Location The placement of the health warning should be chosen to ensure maximum visibility, such as at the top of the main display areas (usually the front and back panels). Normal opening…

According to the World Health Organization, “Health warnings on tobacco packaging, especially those that combine text and pictures, are one of the most cost-effective and powerful ways to increase public awareness of the serious health risks of tobacco use and reduce consumption.”66 The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) therefore requires all its Parties to implement…

Global Action to End Smoking (GAES) is a grant-giving nonprofit foundation, based in the United States, which was fully funded by Philip Morris International (PMI) under a multi-year pledge (2018-2023).95 GAES continues to operate on the remaining PMI funds and the returns on investments made with those funds.959697 Background GAES describes itself as “accelerating comprehensive,…

The UK Tobacco Industry Interference Index (UKTI) forms part of the Global Tobacco Industry Interference Index (GTI). Based on a survey methodology developed by the Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance (SEATCA), and published by the Global Center for Good Governance in Tobacco Control (GGTC), the GTI is a global survey on how governments respond to tobacco industry interference and…

In May 2023, leaked documents published by the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) Truth Tobacco Documents library showed that Philip Morris Japan (PMJ), a subsidiary of Philip Morris International (PMI), had covertly funded a study by Kyoto University academics.125 PMJ also contracted a life sciences consultancy to promote PMI’s science, products and messaging.126 The Tobacco…

The National Coalition Against Contraband Tobacco (NCACT) was founded in 2008 and describes itself as “a Canadian advocacy group formed with the participation of businesses, law and order organizations and individuals concerned about the growing danger of contraband cigarettes.”145 Its stated mission is to “to educate people and urge government to take quick action to stop this growing threat.”…

PMI uses the law to challenge tobacco control regulations. Figure 1 (below) gives an overview of some of these challenges.  Figure 1. Legal challenges made by PMI in the decade from 2008 to 2019.172 PMI has legally challenged tobacco control regulations across the…

2008 to 2012, JTI commissioned (consultancy based in United Kingdom), to perform economic analysis on proposed Plain Packaging in the UK, first considered by the UK government in 2008 and 2010. Four reports, prepared based on Europe Economics work, warned that if plain packaging were implemented, it would lead to an increase in counterfeit and/or contraband tobacco that would…