BAT influenced global treaty designed to eliminate illicit tobacco trade

The Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products is a global treaty designed to stamp out tobacco products being traded illegally. Analysis of 15,000+ previously unseen internal tobacco industry documents reveals that British American Tobacco (BAT) had a ‘clear advocacy strategy to influence the Protocol text’. The analysis also shows that BAT collaborated with other tobacco companies to try and secure this influence.

Research by the Tobacco Control Research Group shows that BAT obtained drafts of the Protocol before they were made public, and paid at least one government delegate to support the company’s position during the negotiations.

Read the University of Bath press release:
British American Tobacco influenced global treat designed to eliminate illicit tobacco trade

Read the research paper: Gomis B, Gallagher AWA, Rowell A, et al, Turning a threat into an opportunity: British American Tobacco’s weakening of the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products, Tobacco Control, Published Online First: 16 September 2021.

As the parties to the Protocol meet at MOP 2,  Dr. Allen Gallagher outlines recommendations for limiting industry interference with national track and trace programmes.