Front groups, “think tanks”, and lobby groups

An alliance of tobacco harm reduction advocates and their respective organizations in the Asia Pacific region. CAPHRA is a member of the International Network of Nicotine Consumer Organizations (INNCO), an international network promoting ENDS/HTPs which has received a grant from the Foundation for a Smoke-Free World, which in turn is funded by Philip Morris International.

Its members have participated in activities supported by the tobacco industry. For example, Nancy E. Sutthoff, also known as Nancy Loucas – the executive coordinator of CAPHRA joined the 6th Global Forum on Nicotine (GFN) as a presenter in 2019.

A consumer organization that describes itself as an organization that defends the right of tobacco users to harm reduction.

This group actively promotes vaping on social media: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEgd8dgEScqYKKUBHwD1DDQ

It also sent a speaker to the GTNF 2023.

Created in January 2010, the main objective of AMTI is to provide a forum for tobacco and clove farmers, workers, consumers, retailers, associations, and manufacturers of cigarettes to preserve the Indonesian tobacco industry. In June 2010, AMTI together with the ITGA co-hosted the Asia Tobacco Forum for tobacco growers from India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, S. Korea and Thailand. They claim to represent the whole of Asia and drew up 12 recommendations expressing their opposition to a ban on tobacco ingredients and urged Asian governments to work alongside other governments to protect the tobacco growing sector.

AMTI claimed that the proposal for plain packaging of tobacco products will cause a negative impact and threaten the industry, which is an important component of the country’s economy.

APVI was established in 2014 by e-cigarette retailers and importers. APVI has been actively promoting e-cigarettes through various channels, including on social media through Instagram. This organization provides e-cigarette entrepreneurs a platform for lobbying the government to derail efforts on banning e-cigarettes.

In 2021, APVI lobbied for the legalization of vaping in Malaysia.

APTI was formed in 2000. As a front group of the tobacco industry, APTI uses the guise of supporting tobacco farmers to lobby against tobacco control measures. One of APTI’s main activities has been to mobilize tobacco farmers to protest against policies that would reduce smoking rates and the demand for tobacco.

APTI meets with government officials to lobby against increasing tobacco excise tax.

GAPRINDO represents the transnational tobacco corporations such as PMI, BAT and JTI and routinely opposes tobacco control measures such as excise tax increase on tobacco claiming it will worsen cigarette smuggling problem, supporting a pro-tobacco industry bill in parliament.

GAPRINDO also said that the industry rejected the ratification of the FCTC because it will not just be confined to addressing the dangers of smoking, but will lead to a ban of tobacco consumption and production. Indonesia remains the only country in Southeast Asia that has not ratified the FCTC.

GAPPRRI actively opposes tobacco control measures and supports measures that promote the tobacco industry. It argues that the cigarette industry would suffer from huge loss because of Government Regulation No. 109 Tahun 2001 about Safety of Addictive Substance in the Form of Tobacco Product to Health.

GAPERO actively opposes tobacco tax increases saying the government’s plan to increase excise revenue by more than 10 percent was excessive and that it would bankrupt many tobacco companies. Their claim is that Indonesia will be flooded with illegal cigarettes, both foreign and domestic and this will hurt the industry and government.

In 2015, GAPERO claimed pictorial health warnings on cigarette packs had caused a 3-5 percent decrease in cigarette sales. They warned if the small tobacco business owners were not efficient, they will face challenges and it can even kill the industry.

https://exposetobacco.org/
tobacco-allies/indef-institute
-for-development-of-economics
-and-finance/

https://tobaccotactics.org/article/
Think-Tanks/

KABAR (Indonesia Tar-Free Coalition) is a coalition of health professional organizations founded in 2017 by Public Health Observer Foundation (YPKP), Indonesia Dentists Association (PDGI), Indonesia Community Medicine Physicians and Public Health Association (PDK3MI), and Indonesia Oncologists Association (POI).Two other organizations, the Indonesian Vapor Entrepreneurs Association (APVI), and Tar-Free Foundation, according to the information from media reports are also known as KABAR founders.

YPKP is known for its aggressive promotion of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products. Meanwhile, PDK3MI from time to time appeared in the media touting the benefits of nicotine and alternative tobacco products as a solution to reducing smoking prevalence.

Public Health Observer Foundation (YPKP) is a civil society organization founded in 2015 by 3 dentists from the University of Padjadjaran.

The pioneers of the foundation are behind the relentless pro-vaping campaign in Indonesia by spreading misleading research conclusions to support the campaign.

There is no hard evidence linking YPKP with the tobacco industry. However, the Indonesia Tar-Free Coalition (KABAR) that was founded by this organization is received funding from Sampoerna.

The organization has been active with international events such as the Asia Harm Reduction Forum from 2017 to 2019.

Factasia.org is a Hong Kong-based independent consumer advocacy group working across the Asia-Pacific region. The organization states on its website that it does not speak for or represent the tobacco industry. Instead, its mission is to promote consumer voices in Asia. However, factasia.org is known to promote industry-proposed and industry-led regulations for electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) and heated tobacco products (HTPs) in Asia.

Despite the organization’s claims that they do not represent the tobacco industry, their supporters include transnational tobacco company Philip Morris International and international pro-ENDS/HTPs group the Tobacco Vapor Electronic Cigarette Association (TVECA), as stated on their website.

DARE  emerged in Malaysia in 2021 pushing harm reduction in the media and making a case to “embrace” e-cigarettes. It claims to be a think tank that performs “data gathering, strategic analysis and advocacy platform for businesses and industries.”

DARE’s website shows it has only two publications, both favorable to the tobacco industry.

IDEAS, a Malaysian think tank founded in 2010, describes itself as an independent research institute committed to promoting research-backed solutions to public policy challenges.

Since 2015, IDEAS has started publically voicing strong opposition to tobacco control measures in the mass media, at national and international fora and communications to international agencies. Its position on tobacco is reflective of the tobacco industry’s positions. It has vigorously opposed plain packaging, excise tax increase, and regulation of e-cigarettes. Between 2017 – 2019 it received funds from Japan Tobacco Inc. and Philip Morris International.

Company based in New Zealand, established in 2018. COREISS has a grant from the Foundation for Smoke Free World (FSFW).

COREISS sent a speaker to the GTNF 2023.

The AmCHam acts as a lobby group for the tobacco industry and a conduit for its charity and events.

It fought efforts by legislators to reduce tobacco consumption by raising taxes on cigarettes.

FPI describes itself as the voice of the industry. It is an umbrella organization of 13 domestic industries, including tobacco companies.  It created Fight Illicit Trade (Fight IT), which is a multi-sectoral movement  aiming to fight against smuggling of products.

It opposed tobacco tax increase, arguing that such measure will increase smuggling.

Philippine E-cigarette Industry Association (PECIA) registered in 2013. The association identifies itself as a trade association composed of store owners, suppliers, and manufacturers of electronic cigarettes and related products in the Philippines.

PECIA regularly attends congressional hearings and campaigns against e-cigarette regulations and opposed higher excise tax on e-cigarettes.

Opposed tobacco tax reforms in the country

Actively campaigns against tobacco control in the media.

The Korea Electronic Cigarette Association challenged  the Ministry of Health and Welfare on the constitutionality of their guidance to the public to stop using e-cigarettes until a safety management system is in place. The Constitutional court ruled in favor of the ministry.

KECA participated in the GTNF 2023

A coalition working to promote e-cigarettes in Thailand. Although there is no evidence of direct connections between ECST and the tobacco industry, ECST works closely with other organizations that have industry connections, such as the International Network of Nicotine Consumer Organisations (INNCO). INNCO is a grantee of the Foundation for a Smoke-Free World (FSFW), and the FSFW in turn is funded by Philip Morris International (PMI).

It has been actively campaigning to legalize e-cigarettes in Thailand.

Thai Tobacco Growers, Curers, and Dealers Association is backed by tobacco companies, and has attempted to stop tobacco control measures in Thailand. It also opposed the government’s efforts to increase pictorial health warnings size on cigarette packs