Today, 29 September 2022, the Philip Morris Germany organises an “after work cocktail reception” in the strategically located Place du Luxembourg (PLUX) to “exchange ideas” with the assistants of Members of the European Parliament (MEPs).

The Smoke Free Partnership (SFP) is highly concerned about the lack of safeguarding EU tobacco policies against the undue influence of the tobacco industry in line with the commitments under the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC), which has been ratified by the EU and its 27 Member States.

According to Article 5.3 of WHO FCTC on the tobacco industry’s interference, policy interactions with the tobacco industry should be limited to what is “strictly necessary to enable them to effectively regulate the tobacco industry and tobacco products”.

Now that the review of major policy files is either ongoing or forthcoming (Tobacco Tax Directive, Tobacco Products Directive, Tobacco Advertising Directive, Council Recommendation on smoke-free environments), the tobacco industry’s attempts to gain access to and influence the policy-makers are leveling up. Policymakers should not contribute to legitimizing a company or an industry with such an abysmal track record of undermining health policies. This is especially important in light of the EU’s commitment to saving lives by reducing tobacco smoking prevalence to 5% by 2040 as set by the Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan.

This is why SFP sent a letter to MEPs to draw attention to the commitments of EU and Member States under Article 5.3 of WHO FCTC and urge them not to take part in Philip Morris Germany’s event. 

The letter can be accessed here.