As defined by Article 5.3 guidelines, unnecessary interactions with the tobacco industry occur when government officials attend social functions sponsored by the industry or when the government enters into a partnership with them.
No social distancing with the industry
Not even the pandemic prevented some high-level government officials from interacting unnecessarily with the tobacco industry. For example, while most physical gatherings were restricted, PMI met with the President of Indonesia to discuss investments on HTPs,[i] and in Cambodia, JTI had a courtesy call with the Minister of Women’s Affairs.[ii] In the Philippines, the Chair of the Philippine Red Cross, also an incumbent senator, met with the LT Group, subsidiary owner of PMFTC, to receive the donation of a biomolecular laboratory.[iii]
National and local events covering different aspects of the tobacco business were also organized by the industry and attended by provincial and high-level state officials in Vietnam.[iv]
The US-ASEAN Business Council (US-ABC), which lists PMI as a Board Member,[v] continues to be a medium for the industry to meet with government officials. In its annual business mission to Thailand to promote corporate portfolios, including PMI, US-ABC held discussions with the Prime Minister and other key officials, such as the Deputy Prime Minister and ministers of public health and finance.[vi] US-ABC also met virtually with Malaysian government officials, including the Minister of Finance and the Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office.[vii]
Illicit trade – a recurring point of collaboration
Combating illicit trade remains an area where many governments work side-by-side with the tobacco industry. State-owned tobacco enterprises in China, Japan, and Vietnam are mandated by law to assist the government in this area. In Lao PDR, aside from the ILA agreement, a memorandum of understanding between the tobacco industry and the government allows assistance and incentives for anti-smuggling enforcement.[viii]
In Myanmar, the government coordinates with the Anti-Illicit Trade Group, which has partnered with Transnational Alliance to Combat Illicit Trade (TRACIT), a recipient of PMI-IMPACT’s funding to conduct anti-smuggling projects.[ix] In Malaysia, the MOF recently announced the creation of a MultiAgency Task Force, which will include the National Kenaf and Tobacco Board (with JTI as a member), to strengthen enforcement of anti-illicit trade activities.[x]
In Philippines, customs officials continue to engage the tobacco industry in their enforcement activities, including seizure and ceremonial destruction of counterfeit products.[xi]
Elevating the tobacco industry’s profile through awards Another unnecessary government interaction that benefits the industry is the granting of awards for its corporate operations and so-called CSR activities. Government officials and institutions that provide these awards are perceived as endorsing these companies and help elevate the industry’s profile, making de-normalizing the industry and its harmful products even more challenging.
[i] Meeting Jokowi, PM eyesIndonesia’s e-cig market. Bisnis.com. 28 Feb 2020. https://bit.ly/3AtdN8k
[ii] JTI Careers Cambodia’s Facebook Page.19 Feb 2021. https://bit.ly/2VTr8b3
[iii] Lucio Tan donates Batangas COVID-19 lab. Inquirer. Philippines. 23 May 2020. https://bit.ly/3zlB5vC
[iv] Vietnam National Tobacco Corporation. News. https://bit.ly/3nHoRey
[v] US-ASEAN Business Council. Board of Directors. https://bit.ly/3iHXPi4
[vi] US-ASEAN Business Council. Press Release. 25 Nov 2020. https://bit.ly/3ACd1Gl
[vii] US-ASEAN Business Council. Press Release: 30 Oct 2020. https://bit.ly/39FnYvb
[viii] Needs Assessment for Implementation of WHO FCTC in Lao PDR. 2015. https://bit.ly/3bZdpkZ
[ix] Tobacco Tactics. Transnational Alliance to Combat Illicit Trade. https://bit.ly/2BOtoGv
[x] Govt’s measures on illicit cigarette will preserve tobacco industry. New Straits Times. 8 November 2020. https://bit.ly/3vKRtEo
[xi] BOC destroys 109 million worth of illicit cigarettes. Inquirer. Philippines. 11 May 2020. https://bit.ly/3tT0TxM