Tobacco Documents Online

The ETS Program for 1991

Abstract

This 1991 budget from the Philip Morris (PM) collection describes tobacco industry activities to "maintain the controversy" on secondhand smoke. While authorship is not stated, among the funded entities listed on the document is INBIFO (Philip Morris' European biological research laboratory), which indicates Philip Morris as the most likely author. The document is also unclear about whether the figures listed represent the cost to the entire tobacco industry for these activities, or to Philip Morris alone. We assume the figures listed are in dollars. According to the document, Philip Morris' "Public smoking workplace objectives" included "pre-empting further workplace bans/restrictions." Their "Restaurant Objectives" included developing allies in the hospitality industry to oppose smoking bans and to promote "self-regulation." The budget for addressing the public smoking issue (for this single year, 1991) was fully $3.95 million, and for their work with restaurants alone was $1.2 million.

"Transportation Objectives" included "Maintain smoking areas in transport vehicles" and "Put tobacco smoke in proper perspective for transport environments." The budget for transportation objectives alone was $465,000.

"Science Objectives" were estimated to cost a whopping $16,688,400 and included "Develop and support activities and research which maintain the controversy..." about seonchand smoke and "Maintain research activity...to provide support for our position."

Among the "Science Objectives" were "Develop[ing] and support[ing] activities and research which maintain the controversy" about tobacco smoke.

Fields

Quotes

The ETS program for 1991 is divided into four major categories:

1. ETS Communication/Merchandising -- Total Cost 2,500,000

Maintain the controversy and correct misinformation about tobacco smoke in public and scientific forums. Develop market specific target audiences for ETS messages. II. Public Smoking - Total Cost 3,950,000

Workplace Objectives - 2,285,000

Define legal climate for workers compensation litigation Develop documents and witnesses for litigation Pre-empt further workplace bans/restrictions Assure equitable indoor air quality standards Promote a building systems approach to workplace environment

Restaurant Objectives 1,200,000

Pre-empt legislated smoking restrictions. Develop allies in hospitality industry in opposing legislation to restrict/ban smoking in their establishments. Promote "self regulation" and "accommodation" program.

Transportation Objectives 465,000

Maintain smoking areas in transport vehicles. Create tools for changing attitudes towards smoking in the various transport environments. Put tobacco smoke in proper perspective for transport environments. Develop data for trains, buses, boats similar to that of airlines.

III. Science Total Cost 16,688,400

Objectives

--Develop and support activities and research which maintain the controversy and seek to correct misinformation about tobacco smoke.

--Maintain research activity and an academic, scientific and lay consultant team to provide support for our position.

Expert development and deployment 3,050,000 Symposia (Spain and U.S.) 600,000 Constituents Database and Debate Background 300,000 Neuchatel 6,862,400 Grants to external organizations INBIFO 2,500,000 ...

IV. Social Cost Total cost 1,200,000

This is a new undertaking method and comparative figures for 1990.

Objectives

Correct the misapplication of social cost methodologies to the smoking issue. Remove the issue as a justification for anti tobacco legislation. Show the absurdity of applying social cost techniques to other inappropriate popular activities.

Company

Philip Morris

Author

Presumed corporate author, Philip Morris

Recipient

Presumed corporate recipient, Philip Morris

Region

United States

Spain

Possibly global

Litigation

Ppla/Produced

Operation/Project

Project Whitecoat (Scientific Witness Project)

Global project to recruit respected scientists in developed countries around the world who would criticize the science on secondhand smoke, cast doubt on whether ETS harms people and "prolong the controversy" about the effects of environmental tobacco smoke on nonsmokers.

Named Organization

BCIA, Business Council on Indoor Air (PM funded, industry-formed indoor air quality group-)

Formed in 1988 "to address a growing mutual concern of a number of private companies representing a wide spectrum of industries about the serious national problem of poor indoor air quality." (2023920674/0683). Funded by Philip Morris (2023856052/6057)

Center for Indoor Air Research (CIAR) (Industry formed/funded air research organization)

Nonprofit organization funded by the tobacco industry. CIAR was formed in March 1988 by tobacco companies "to sponsor "high-quality research on indoor air issues and to facilitate communication of research findings to the broad scientific community."

*EPA ( use United States Environmental Protection Agency)

International Flight Attendants Association

INBIFO, Intitut Fur Biologische Forschung (Philip Morris' secret biological research lab in Europe)

"INBIFO" stands for Institut Fur Biologische Forschung, or Institute for Biological Research. It is located in Germany. Philip Morris acquired Inbifo on June 30, 1971. Its stated mission was "quantitative biological product evaluation" by using "comprehensive toxicological and physiological testing. Major activities are listed as: product evaluation and modifications, product ingredients and ETS-related technical knowledge and smoke components. Inhalation toxicology was a key feature of Inbifo. (Derived from Bates No. 2505235055/5088)

Type

REPT, REPORT, OTHER

BUDG, BUDGET, BUDGET REVIEW

Subject

secondhand smoke

mass media

media campaign