Anne Landman's Collection
Extract of A Letter Received From B.A.T Cigaretten - Fabriken Gmbh Dated 771107
Abstract
This 1977 British American Tobacco (BAT) document relates the tobacco industry's early fears that European health ministries were starting to view tobacco as a public health problem. It discusses a proposed meeting of European Health Ministers wherein cigarette smoking was to be discussed as a public health hazard, right along with other subjects like poor food hygiene, alcohol consumption, drugs and abuse of medical remedies. It proposes first steps of how the tobacco industry could "block this activity at birth."
Of the meeting, the document states, "We fear this may have the consequence that in the future 'Smoking and Health' will become a subject of European policy not only under the aspect of consumer protection but in all of its dimensions. The already most alarming approach which Mr. DeGave's Working Party on Tobacco has taken on behalf of the Consumers Consultative Committee may very well serve as a stepping stone on the way towards wider horizons of anti-smoking action...What appears most startling about all this is the impact with which the EEC action in this field seems to be gaining speed in the last few months. We shall have to find out which institutions and individual countries could be approached in order to block this activity at birth..."
Fields
- Notes
The original letter was sent by D. Vonspecht of British American Tobacco to C.H. Stuart Lockhart, BATCO-Board Deputy Chairman, Director-Europe.
- Quotes
We have information that the EC Commission has proposed to hold a Council Meeting of Health Ministers. This may take place between the l2th and 17 December. The Presidency is proposing four subjects for discussion:
1. Exchange of views on the economic aspects of health, and especially on the results of studies which the Commission is undertaking at this moment.
2. Policies concerning health education especially with regard to tobacco consumption, drugs and food.
3. Control of certain diseases especially problems concerning vaccination.
4. Mutual assistance in case of catastrophes, and of particularly dangerous diseases.
Only the German Delegation has not yet approved of the idea of the meeting, arguing that the proposed discussion would be premature.
With regard to item 2 the Commission has outlined the need for special health education based on general scientific findings and emphasizing that everyone has an increasing responsibility for his own health as well as the health of others. Stress should be laid especially on the prevention and suppression of certain injurious health habits, namely smoking, insufficient food hygiene, alcohol consumption, drugs, abuse of medical remedies.
The Commission intends to submit a paper showing which actions could be taken with regard to smoking, food and drugs. The Working Group level thinks that the Ministers should not only exchange views but draw up sizable conclusions and assign special tasks to expert groups at Commission level.
We fear this may have the consequence that in the future "Smoking and Health" will become a subject of European policy not only under the aspect of consumer protection but in all of its dimensions. The already most alarming approach which Mr. de Gave's Working Party on Tobacco has taken on behalf of the Consumers Consultative Committee may very well serve as a stepping-stone on the way towards wider horizons of anti-smoking action.
The Working Party on Tobacco's paper is attached.
What appears most startling about all this is the impact with which the EEC action in this field seems to be gathering speed during the last few months. We shall have to find out which institutions in the individual countries could be approached in order to block this supra-national activity at birth and return to the national handling of the problem.
- Company
- Philip Morris collection
- Author
- BAT Cigaretten-Fabriken GmBH
- Recipient
- N/A
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