KEY EXAMPLES OF EFFORTS TAKEN BY COUNTRIES TO PROTECT AGAINST TOBACCO INDUSTRY INTERFERENCE
| COUNTRIES | ACTIONS | TYPES OF ACTION | DOCUMENTS | RELATED ARTICLES |
| Philippines | In 2010, the Department of Health (DOH) and the Civil Service Commission (CSC) adopted a governance measure to prevent interaction with the tobacco industry unless strictly necessary for regulation, and to avoid all forms of conflicts of interest. | National policy | CSC-DOH Joint Memorandum Circular No. 2010-01 | Gov't should not deal with tobacco firms – CSC |
| Poland |
In January 2018, the Ministry of Health sent a warning letter to the Chancellor, Vice-Rectors, and Deans of all medical schools about the Foundation for a Smoke-Free World’s funding support for research, and informed them that any study funded by the Foundation cannot be used to advocate for changes in law. |
Ministry of Health warning letter | Minister of Health letter to Chancellor, Vice-Rectors, and Deans of medical schools, 09 January 2018 | Poland considers the Philip Morris International-funded Foundation for a Smoke-Free World as part of the tobacco industry |
| Thailand | In 2017, the Thai government adopted its Tobacco Products Control Act, B.E. 2560 which excludes anyone who “owns, is a related person or a stakeholder in a business involving tobacco products whether directly or indirectly” in its policy work. The Act also requires the tobacco industry to supply information on its tobacco production, import, and marketing expenses. | National law | Tobacco Products Control Act, B.E. 2560 (2017) | Tobacco Products Control Act of Thailand comes into force |
| Uganda | In 2015, Uganda’s government adopted its Tobacco Control Act to protect its tobacco control policies, laws, and programs from tobacco industry interference. The Act makes it the duty of the government to ensure transparency in all its interactions with the industry. | National law that includes specific section on conflicts of interest regarding the tobacco industry | Uganda, Act 22, The Tobacco Control Act 2015 | Uganda passes tobacco control law in line with the world’s most stringent policies |
| United Kingdom | In 2013, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office issued its revised guidelines on tobacco for its diplomatic missions which clarifies that support given by diplomatic posts to the tobacco industry should be in keeping with the FCTC Article 5.3 and the UK government’s commitment to safeguard its public health policies from the industry’s commercial and other vested interests. | Foreign and Commonwealth Office policy | United Kingdom’s revised guidelines for overseas posts on support to the tobacco industry | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland – guidance for embassies on interactions with the tobacco industry published |
KEY EXAMPLES OF EFFORTS TAKEN AT THE GLOBAL STAGE TO PROTECT AGAINST TOBACCO INDUSTRY INTERFERENCE
| ORGANIZATIONS | ACTIONS | DOCUMENTS | RELATED ARTICLES |
| United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) | Effective 15 October 2017, UNGC delisted participating companies whose business involves manufacturing or producing tobacco products. | UN Global Compact Integrity Policy Update | UN Global Compact exits tobacco companies |
| United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) | In 2013, UNDP defined a set of exclusionary criteria outlining those business practices considered unacceptable to the organization, and these include the “manufacture, sale or distribution of tobacco or tobacco products.” | Policy on Due Diligence and Partnerships with the Private Sector | New Due Diligence Policy to work with the Private Sector |
| International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) | In June 2015, the IFRC issued an Internal Guidance Brief on their non-engagement with tobacco companies. This Internal Guidance states, among others, that IFRC upholds principles to dissociate itself from “an industry that contributes to significant mortality, illness and suffering worldwide.” | Red Cross Red Crescent non-engagement with tobacco companies: Internal guidance brief | International Red Cross: No Funding from Tobacco Industry |