Tobacco control in Africa is undermined by industry interference in the continent, say experts from the University of Cape Town.

Corné van Walbeek, Professor at the School of Economics and Principal Investigator of the Economics of Tobacco Control Project and Zunda Chisha, Research officer at the Research Unit on the Economics of Excisable Products, unpack tobacco control in some African countries in a new piece, published in The Conversation.

The authors highlight positive efforts in implementing tobacco control policies in the continent, like the ratification of the WHO FCTC by 51 out of 54 countries in the region.

However, many challenges remain, and tobacco industry interference remains an obstacle to effective tobacco control policies, like the adoption of tobacco tax policies or the elimination of the illicit tobacco trade.

Transnational Tobacco Companies (TTCs) have acted unethically in the African continent for decades, like the recent investigation into BAT’s dirty deeds in Africa reveals.

As Van Walbeek and Chisha warn, this is unlikely to be the last time TTCs act unethically to maintain profits and weaken tobacco control.

Read the full Conversation article here.