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World: GTNF, COp7…& unlikely praise for russian communists
Figure 1 Russia Stalin e-cig
The December 2016 edition of the tobacco industry trade publication Tobacco Reporter provided a fascinating insight into the alternative universe of the tobacco industry and its acolytes. Published in the wake of the seventh WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) Conference of the Parties (COP7), it attempts to position the tobacco industry as having interests aligned with public health, and innovation in tobacco products as the greatest contributor to tackling the smoking epidemic. In addition, it positions the tobacco industry as open, transparent and engaging with a wide range of stakeholders, while attempting to paint the COP process as lacking in transparency.
The opening editorial heralds the Global Tobacco and Nicotine Forum (GTNF), held in Brussels from 27-29 September as setting ‘new standards’ for tobacco related events, particularly noting the abandonment of the Chatham House rule for the first time since the GTNF was created eight years ago (The Chatham House rule requires that participants not quote or identify speakers or their affiliations, nor any other participants. GTNF also placed restrictions on reporting of proceedings). It notes that while there are risks of negative publicity, especially for an industry as ‘reputationally challenged’ as tobacco, it also provides the industry an opportunity to explain its position and correct misperceptions.
Of course, there is nothing to stop the industry from holding other events behind closed doors while holding up GTNF as a model for engagement that is otherwise increasingly denied to the tobacco industry. Perhaps FCTC …