Bath University Reveals Tobacco Industry Not Transparent in Key EU Consultation

An extensive lobbying effort by the tobacco industry has been revealed in a paper by researchers at the University of Bath (UK), published in October in Tobacco Control.

The paper shows that two thirds (66%) of submissions to an EU consultation about a tobacco tracking system (under the EU Tobacco Products Directive) were from companies with financial links to the tobacco industry. Yet, more than one in five (22%) of these companies did not declare the link.

Shortcomings in the EU’s transparency requirements for public consultations allowed the tobacco industry to exploit the process in this way, declared the University of Bath in a press release.

Specifically, trade associations that represent tobacco companies were able to make submissions without revealing who their members were. Almost nine in 10 (85%) of the trade associations which took part had financial links to the tobacco industry.

The consultation was on how a track and trace system should operate in the EU. In brief, the system applies unique IDs to cigarettes and other tobacco products. These IDs can be tracked through every single link in the supply chain. If the products are found being sold illegally, they can be traced back to the point of entry.