9 Rejecting partnerships with the tobacco industry

Stated by the FCTC Article 5.3 Guidelines are partnerships between any level of the government and the tobacco industry – whether formal or informal – problematic. There is a fundamental and irreconcilable conflict between the tobacco industry’s interests and public health policy interests. Creating the perception of cooperation between government and the tobacco industry can bolster the tobacco industry’s reputation and generate goodwill and public acceptance for tobacco companies.

The Nordic countries want to minimise tobacco industry interference by rejecting any partnership of any kind with the tobacco industry and limiting interactions with the tobacco industry.

Partnerships with the tobacco industry are inappropriate, including but not limited to:

• legal and voluntary agreements with the tobacco industry, including contracts or memoranda of understanding,
• accepting offers from the tobacco industry or agents of the tobacco industry to assist with the development of tobacco control legislation or policy, or to participate in industry-sponsored tobacco control measures,
• accepting, supporting or endorsing any voluntary code of conduct or regulatory instrument drafted by the tobacco industry or agent,
• engaging in a ‘joint operation’ with the tobacco industry on any aspect of law development or law enforcement and
• supporting or endorsing the tobacco industry organising or promoting any public education initiative, environmental issues and actions against illicit trade and excise fraud