Tobacco Documents Online

o-11 4qt META' S PRIORDTI;ES' A.*7D PROPOSED WORK PLAN 1992 - 1993 I. Introduction During the Plan period', META should seek to re-focus its efforts on key issues not on suib-tasks that gradually devolve into ends in themselves. Agreed well-thought-out strategies should be final'ised; and action plans developed to address the issues/threats/challenges which are expected to face the Industry during the Plan period. These action plans will form the basis for the Secretary's activities and it is against these agreed action steps that the Secretary should report progress at successive N'.=TA meetings. The Secretary's performance will subsequently be appraised against such progress. META should al'so maintain, andi strengthen its principle fu:nctions/ resources so as to improve its: chances of success particularly in pro-active and pre-emptive action and, in effectively prese:nting the Industry's position to its interlocutors•and to the media. ` IZ. fiey Issues/'Threats 1. Marketino Freedoms: The threat of further restrictions or possible bans on tobacco advertising, promotions and sponsors°nip. 2. Product Reoulations: The threat of reductions in T&N MCL's, restrictive standards that would' entail significajn;; changes to present operations and affect future product development. Also the threat of additional' ingredient disclosure reauirements. 3. Publi'c Smok!Inc: The threat of re,strictions/bans on, workplace smoking, public smoking, airline smoking and similar restrictio,r.s or bans i'n the hospitality sector. ~ 4. Scientific Mi.sinforr^ation and the Industry's Image:. III. Key Functi~ons/Resources 1. Environmental N.onitoring, and Early Warning. 2. Information Management%Data base. 3. Coordilnat:ingi Industry Action.. 4. Communications/:'ledi'a Relations. IV. Proposed'META Strategies - Key Issues. 1. Marketing Freedoms Create: informal coalitions within natural allies (who benefit from tobacco advertising and sponsorship) and mcbilise them in defence of tobacco marketing freedoms. tSse META's existing network of contacts to improve the industry's access to advance information on prcposed/p?an.^.ed advertising restrictions,/bans.

- 2' - Compile: an agreed se;t of argFSments backed! where possible by supporting research findings for use where appropriate against proposed advertising restrictions or bans. Develop local socio-economic arguments: or adapt global arguments against advertising bans to local co.nd'itions. Undertake research, or encourage and support research that seeks to measure the economic impact of tobacco advertising in the GCC countries. Work within the local chapter(s) of the IAA to establish a platform for the defence of advertising freedoms advertisers, agencies and medlia.. by Publ'icise fa:Jourabl!e positions/decisions adbpted internationally against tobacco, advertising bans. Publicise the Pndustry's responsible position on the juvenile smoking issue. Prevent provocative marketing excesses in the field and encourage sel'f-regul'ation and restraint. 2. Product Rearulations Maintain and promote a prof'essionaI Industry Scientists dialogue with SASO, the Gulf Standard's Org,anisaticn staff and other key GCC and Arab specifications officialls. - Expand the circle of Y.ETA companies' contacts on productt regulations to GCC'health officials, who are likely to support the Industry's posittioni against, restrictive product standards ~ and speeif',icatio,ns." ~ncourage stanciards and specifications officials to play a greater role in tobacco-rellated proposals of a technical/ scientific nature that are initiated by health officials. Uevelop and compil!e agreed' Industry arguments against specific restrictions contained in product st,andiards/specifications:. hhe,re appropriate use these arguments in joint or separate, butt coordinated, approaches to health and/or specifications official'.s. 3. Public Smoking - Niaintain, and step up Y.E*LAC's ETS' co;mmuinicati'ons effort with a view to promote balanced coverage of the public smoking debate. Concentrate this ef`crt on management, travel and, leisure and business publicaticr.s. f'n^,sider, and if feasible, undertake a direct mai~.ling ca.'npaig~n ~n~ to leading GCC pri-:ate emplovers, corrTunicating the I~ndustry's arguments againss workplace and public smoking restrictio,ns/bans.

- 3 - Establish contact with the Amman-based Arab Air Carriers Organisation (AACO) and develop this relationship to serve as a conduit throug,hi which technical/scientifio arguments/solutions to cabin air cual!ity problems can be communicated to GCC and Arab airlines. Coordinate member compan;ies' field management efforts with, hospitality sector establishments where they sponsor events, to prevent a spill-over of smoking segregation/bans to these, e,stabl'ishments. Y. Scientific Misinformation/Industry Imaqe. Compile from member companies' inputs, an agreed claims versus responses document that is cleared by all members, in: prer;aration for use when appropriate (subject to unanimous approvall by Ny.=TA members) by the designated Indu,stry, spokesman (when and if' such spokesman is designated). Develop, with the assistance of Mn.N.AC, a relationship with, the meriia that would allow Industry input, at the local, regior.al,, or global level' into tobacco'-related stories prior to their uublication. Capitalise on joint Industry campaigns at the interna.`ional,, regional or local levels (if' any are undertaken by u=^A locally)' which project the Industry's soci'alresponsibility, and nubIicise these in the local media. - A1locate special effort to counter false claims on Third Wcrldi product and marketing practices of multinational' to'Waccoo manufacturers. Seek to correct, iri meetings: and discussions with the media and' decision-makers, current misconceptions about the Ind.:s`ry particularly with respect to the above. V. Proposed META Strategies - Fuactions 1. Monitoring and Eairlv Warnina: axpand ME:N.aC's mission statement to cover monitoring the activities/plans/proposals of government/s;emi-private/-o~vate, organisations: that impact the Industry's buisiness (the. Secretary and Chairman of N.ETA shouild' identify what should be regularly monitored). Capitalise on member companies' resources and' gove :-"mer.t. contacts as a source of first hand information on impending,/ proposed regulations affecting the Industry. Infcrr..aticn '?z.n.ace^ent/TJata Base. 3°.:ild' up and maintain a reliable data base on the status of tobacco related regulations, government ager.cies/,decision- ^:ake,rs affecting the Industry and the decision-making process~, natLral'allies, media and media-men profiles, for regular and/'or ad hoc use by member companies.

- 4 - Restructure the monthly reporting, a~nd' the ag;endas of future meeting,s in accordance with progress on the key issues and key. °unctions an& the tasks and, sub-tasks as they relate to these issues and functions. 3. Coordinating Indust,rv Action - Reep the Secretary"s contacts/meetings with officials and decision-makers on behal!f of META under the strict control' and unanimous approval of bL:TA companies. - Develop, where appropriate, in-market working groups (e.g. Csan) to maintain continuity in the field: for coordinatedd long-term strategies and actio,n plans agreed unanimously by N= TA.. t'_zcourage, where appropriate, agreement and j'oint Industry rF_cresentations on the Industry's key iss:ues as a more e::ective al'ternative to individual ccmpany a:proacnes. 4. Com.:,uni cations/Media Relatio,rns. Seek to improve MEW.AC's communications services: both qsa?'itatively and! quantitatively, through~ increased inaut and sunport from all u.ETA members, clearer guidelines and a better con,mitment by the agency to upgrade the account mnnagementt ca--abilities. Encourage coordinated and fully briefed statements to the media by designated company representatives - until all! N..:TA co-s ani es agree and decide to designate an Iindustry spokesman. wor'>c through member company representatives and advertising and ?R a,enoies to encourage the media to adopt a more balaneed andd objective position, on tobacco issues - either directly or through the IAA platform.