HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS REGISTER		Author Keyword(s) Vol Page [Advanced]

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this link to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Add article to my folders Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Hiilamo, H T Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Hiilamo, H T

Tobacco control implications of the first European product liability suit

Correspondence to:
Dr Heikki T Hiilamo
Church Council/Diaconia and Social Responsibility, Satamakatu 11, 00161 Helsinki, Finland; heikki.hiilamo{at}evl.fi

Objective: To examine tobacco control implication of the first European product liability suit in Finland.

Methods: Systematic search of internal tobacco industry documents available on the internet and at the British American Tobacco Guildford Depository.

Results: Despite legal loss, the litigation contributed to subsequent tobacco control legislation in Finland. The proceedings revealed that the industry had concealed the health hazards of its products and, despite indisputable evidence, continued to deny them. The positions taken by the industry rocked its reliability as a social actor and thus weakened its chances of influencing tobacco policy. Despite fierce opposition from the tobacco industry, tobacco products were included in the product liability legislation, tobacco was entered on the Finnish list of carcinogens, and an extensive Tobacco Act was passed in Parliament.

Conclusions: Tobacco litigation might not stand alone as a tool for public health policymaking but it may well stimulate national debate over the role of smoking in society and influence the policy agenda.

Abbreviations: BAT, British American Tobacco, B&W, Brown & Williams; JMF, Jacob, Medinger & Finnegan, PM, Philip Morris; PMI, PM International; RJR, RJ Reynolds; SHB, Shook, Hardy & Bacon

Keywords: Finland; tobacco documents; litigation