British American Tobacco's Submission to the WHO's
British American Tobacco’s submission to the WHO’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control This is the submission of the British American Tobacco group of companies commenting on the WHO’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. We are the world’s most international tobacco group with an active presence in 180 countries. Our companies sell some of the world’s best known brands including Dunhill, Kent, State Express 555, Lucky Strike, Benson & Hedges, Rothmans and Pall Mall. Executive summary • The WHO’s proposed ‘Framework Convention on Tobacco Control’ is fundamentally flawed and will not achieve its objectives. • The tobacco industry, along with other industries involved in the manufacture and distribution of legal but risky products, is the subject of considerable public attention. It is important that the debate about tobacco remains open, objective, constructive and free from opportunistic criticism if we are effectively to address the real issues associated with tobacco. • British American Tobacco is responsible tobacco. We seek to operate in partnership with governments, who are significant stakeholders in our business, and other interested parties, based on our open acknowledgement that we make a risky product and therefore support sensible regulation. • British American Tobacco shares the World Health Organisation’s desire to reduce the health impact of tobacco use. This paper outlines British American Tobacco’s proposal for the sensible regulation of tobacco. • Our proposal will relieve the WHO of the cost and bureaucracy involved in its wish to become a single global tobacco regulator, leaving it free to do what it should be doing – policy orientation. Some facts about tobacco • Today over one billion adults, about one third of the world’s adult population, choose to smoke.
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