21 April 2020: the latest SFP Coalition statement focuses on the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the importance of tobacco control

The text outlines several key tobacco control priorities that need to be taken into account for the benefit of public health especially in light of COVID-19. It is intended for policy-makers, health advocates as well as media. The text focuses on the following:

• Tobacco use has been linked to higher risks of severe complications and death from COVID-19.
• To save lives, governments must highlight the risks of tobacco use in the current pandemic and continue to strengthen tobacco control at EU and national levels.
• Governments must ensure that tobacco users have access to independent, evidence-based information, cessation advice and services.
• Governments should take steps to prevent the tobacco industry from profiting from its corporate and social responsibility (CSR) through increased access to health policy-making or reputational laundering.

List of endorsing organisations (as of 15 May 2020):

• Belgium: Alliance pour une société sans tabac
• Belgium: Fondation contre le Cancer
• Belgium: Kom op tegen Kanker
• Bosnia and Herzegovina: PROI Progressive Reinforcement of Organizations and Individuals
• Bulgaria: Smoke Free Life Coalition Bulgaria
• EU : European Medical Students' Association (EMSA)
• EU/Belgium: Association of European Cancer Leagues (ECL)
• EU/Belgium: European Heart Network (EHN)
• EU/Belgium: Standing Committee of European Doctors (CPME)
• Finland: Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) Finland
• France : Comité national contre le tabagisme (CNCT)
• Germany: German Smokefree Alliance (ABNR)
• Germany: Unfairtobacco / BLUE 21
• Ireland: Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) Ireland
• Ireland: Irish Cancer Society
• Israel: Smoke Free Israel
• Lithuania : Lithuanian Tobacco and Alcohol Control Coalition (NTAKK)
• North Macedonia: Institute of Public Health of Republic of North Macedonia
• Norway: Norwegian Cancer Society
• Portugal: Centro de Apoio, Tratamento e Recuperação, IPSS
• Serbia: Association Health Mission
• Slovenia: Slovenian Coalition for Public Health,
  Environment and Tobacco Control
• Spain: Comité Nacional para la Prevención del
  Tabaquismo
• Sweden: Tobaksfakta – Independent Think-Tank
• The Netherlands: Dutch Cancer Society
• The Netherlands: Health Funds for a Smokefree Netherlands
• UK: Cancer Research UK (CRUK)
• UK: FRESH
• Ukraine: Advocacy Center ‘Life’