How Marlboro income paid for Commons launch of tobacco review

Launch funds: Philip Morris’ Marlboro cigarettes. Photograph: Paul Sakuma/AP

The chairman of an influential Home of Commons decide on committee investigating the tobacco trade hosted a parliamentary reception funded by a cigarette giant, the Observer has established.

Keith Vaz, chairman of the home affairs select committee (HASC), held a reception to launch a report funded by Marlboro manufacturer Philip Morris Global (PMI) which warns that plain packets for cigarettes will motivate smuggling, an argument described by wellness campaigners as a scare tactic to derail an initiative that will make smoking less desirable to youthful men and women.

Vaz has spoken in parliament on plain packaging, suggesting smuggling presently expenses the Treasury a lot more than £2bn a year – a line promoted by the industry. He was amid 72 MPs who signed a letter to Jeremy Hunt, the wellness secretary, saying that plain packaging will increase the illicit trade in cigarettes.

Earlier this yr he wrote to the prime minister urging him not to attain a decision on plain packaging until finally his committee had reported on its inquiry into tobacco smuggling. Many of the claims suggesting the introduction of plain packaging will encourage smuggling stem from a report, The Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products in the United Kingdom, which was launched by Vaz in January 2013 at a reception for 100 influential guests in parliament’s Terrace Pavilion.

The event was attended by MPs and members of the Association of Chief Police Officers, the Treasury, the Severe Organised Crime Agency, Border Force and Trading Specifications. The report by Transcrime, a thinktank, was sent to each MP. A week right after the reception, Vaz announced that his committee was to investigate tobacco smuggling.

His determination to launch the inquiry into tobacco smuggling so soon after hosting a tobacco sector event has been condemned by health campaigners. Below Globe Overall health Organisation suggestions, signed up to by Britain, politicians involved in policies that could have an affect on cigarette companies ought to “establish measures to limit interactions with the tobacco business and make certain the transparency of individuals interactions that arise”.

“Mr Vaz ought to not place the interests of tobacco firms above people of his constituents, the bulk of whom support the introduction of plain packaging,” mentioned Deborah Arnott, chief executive of overall health charity Ash.

On 24 February this yr, as the government-commissioned Chantler report into plain packaging was finished, Vaz wrote to the prime minister: “I am writing to ask that no selection on the introduction of plain packaging be taken until finally the committee has finished its inquiry and the government and the Residence has had the advantage of our report.”

Arnott stated it was tough “to comprehend” why Vaz would publish such a letter that some MPs on the HASC stated they did not know had been sent in their name. “This seems to be like a last-minute try to cease standardised packaging by the back door,” Arnott mentioned.

Transcrime strongly rejects claims that its study is compromised by tobacco money. It says its perform is at all times independent. PMI says it did not see the analysis until it was published, and insisted that there was total disclosure that it had funded the report and the parliamentary reception.

“As a concerned stakeholder in the fight against the illicit trade in tobacco, Philip Morris Ltd paid for the refreshments and reception fees for this occasion,” a firm spokesman mentioned. “In line with our inner protocols, we acknowledged this on the invitation to the occasion and the backdrops at the occasion. Our funding for the analysis itself is acknowledged by Transcrime in the report.”

Vaz explained that it was the practice “to publish to acceptable ministers if we are conducting an inquiry into a subject and a government choice is imminent, to ask the government to wait till HASC publishes its report.” He mentioned committee members received copies of all letters and replies sent by him. And he rejected tips he was pro-tobacco. “I do not assistance any line from any group or organisation,” Vaz stated.

Any delay in the introduction of plain packaging would be welcome information for the tobacco market. Imperial Tobacco, Japan Tobacco and British American Tobacco have hired companies to acquire signatures from the public to oppose the initiative. According to the EU lobbying register, all 3 organizations have considerably enhanced their spending on lobbying in the last two many years as they have sought to derail moves to introduce plain packaging.

How Marlboro income paid for Commons launch of tobacco review

Marlboro advertising campaign aimed at youthful people, anti-tobacco report says

Advert from Marlboro’s ‘Don’t Be a Maybe’ campaign, which is stated to target youthful folks. Photograph: Guardian

An advert in Switzerland exhibits a barefoot youthful female on a large parapet overlooking a city as the sun sets. “A Perhaps never reached the leading”, says the caption.

“Maybe in no way wrote a song”, runs the caption on an additional billboard in Germany, beside the image of a laughing young woman performer, hair dishevelled, cigarette in hand. Other posters display younger males riding stunt bikes and motorbikes.

Every single advert in the “Never be a Possibly” campaign ends with the command: “Be Marlboro”.

Anti-tobacco campaigners on Wednesday published a report accusing Philip Morris International, the makers of Marboro cigarettes, of breaching its own ethical code in embarking on a substantial-profile international marketing and advertising campaign meant to recruit new younger smokers.

The campaign has been rolled out across 50 nations, featuring billboards, adverts and promotional events like music concerts. The posters demonstrate youthful folks apparently acting in radical, decisive and adventurous ways. “Perhaps by no means fell in enjoy – Be Marlboro” runs the banner on a poster of two younger individuals kissing in a dark street.

That advert ran in Germany in 2011. In October 2013, Germany banned the promotional images, ruling they were developed to encourage youngsters as youthful as 14 to smoke. PMI has mentioned it will appeal. Meanwhile the campaign has taken off in other nations, this kind of as Indonesia, Brazil and the Philippines, the place the laws on cigarette promoting are not as stringent as in some European nations, which includes the Uk.

In a joint report, seven anti-tobacco organisations warned that PMI is striving to recruit a new generation of youngsters, many of whom risk turning out to be hooked on tobacco for lifestyle. The report, “You’re the Target”, was issued by Corporate Accountability Worldwide, Campaign for Tobacco-Free of charge Kids, Alliance for the Control of Tobacco Use, Tobacco Control Alliance, Framework Convention Alliance, InterAmerican Heart Foundation, and Southeast Asia Tobacco Manage Alliance.

The campaign “exploits adolescents’ search for identity by suggesting that – in the encounter of uncertainty – they need to be a Marlboro smoker”, says the report. “Despite the fact that PMI claims that ‘Be Marlboro’ only targets legal-age smokers, campaign commercials from around the globe plainly focus on youth-oriented photographs and themes that appeal to youngsters and function young, attractive models partying, falling in adore, journey traveling and typically getting ‘cool’.”

Anti-tobacco campaigners have filed compliants in Brazil, Colombia and Switzerland, as well as Germany, claiming the adverts breach local laws. It also says that PMI is violating its own ethical code, which states: “We do not and will not marketplace our items to minors, which includes the use of photographs and material with specific appeal to minors.”

The organisations get in touch with on PMI to finish the campaign quickly and urge governments to employ tougher anti-tobacco promoting laws. “Not only is Philip Morris International violating tobacco handle laws in many of the nations it operates this campaign, it is undertaking so in conjunction with its global campaign of litigation and intimidation aimed at stopping, watering down and delaying lifestyle-saving public health measures,” mentioned John Stewart, Challenge Massive Tobacco campaign director at Corporate Accountability Global.

He added: “This report shines a light on the often unlawful and often unethical techniques PMI uses to continue to addict individuals to its deadly items.”

A spokesman for PMI mentioned: “Our Marlboro campaign, like all of our marketing and advertising and marketing, is aimed exclusively at grownup smokers and is performed in compliance with local laws and inner marketing and advertising policies. Allegations to the contrary are unfounded and based on a subjective interpretation.”

Marlboro advertising campaign aimed at youthful people, anti-tobacco report says