Tobacco Documents Online

INF ® TA B INTERNATIONAL TOBACCO INFORMATION CENTER CENTRE INTERNATIONAL D'INFORMATION DU TABAC RUE MONTOYER 10 - b. 2 1040 BRUSSELS BELGIUM TEL. : 02/511.91.10 TELEX : 24218 September 29th, 1981 To: Ms. M.W. Covington, Secretary General From: Mr. G.C. Hargrove, Chairman, DCG As you know, at the last meeting of the Developing Countries Group, it was unanimously agreed that I should write to you in advance of the Board of Directors meeting in Baden-Baden regarding a matter of serious and growing concern to the members of the DCG and to the tobacco industry in developing countries. You are, of course, aware that for some time the industry has been under increasing attack based on alleged aspects of its operations in developing countries. These allegations fall into three categories: international companies are accused of double standards in relation to cigarette constituent levels, of using marketing and advertising practices not acceptable in developed countries and of unwillingness to print health warnings on packs. The DCG's examination of the UICC's "Guidelines for Smoking Control" and Dr. Roemer's report "Legislative Action to Combat the World Smoking Epidemic" indicates that attacks based on these allegations will almost inevitably increase and provide the impetus for new anti-smoking restrictions in developing countries. Additionally these allegations will further reduce the credibility of the industry in those countries and hence its ability to make effective presentations to governments on smoking and health issues. While realising that such matters were not within the original conception of INFOTAB's role, the DCG nevertheless feels that it is essential in the circumstances mentioned above for INFOTAB to develop a new strategy in these areas, preferably to be based on action seen by government and the public to have been initiated by the industry itself or at least to be the outcome of responsible action by the industry resulting from constructive discussions with government. On behalf of all members of the DCG, I would therefore ask you to convey our concern to the Board of Directors at its forthcoming meeting and to seek its agreement to our proposal that an INFOTAB strategy incorporating action plans to deal with the situation described in this letter should be evolved as rapidly as possible. G.C. Hargrove Chairman, Developing Countries cc: DCG members Group