Tobacco Documents Online

From: FBREIDBA--VDE0089A Date and time 10.10.89 10:48:22 To: CVONMAER--VUS0212A C. Von Maerestten. From: Ferdi Breidbach Subject: Boca Raton Progress Report Dear Cynthia, VECErwED OCT 10 1989 here is our somewhat belated (a few hours) Boca ~~ n Report I will report only about the issues specifically"fi~MIbYMW&UW PR dept., the items concerning the VDC (association of the cigarette industry) I will only mention briefly. 1) Healthy buildings seminars: The healthy air subject is no issue in Germany and the VDC reacts according to need. 2) Scientific Seminars: The VDC sends scientists to the various scientific conferences amongst others recently the "Therapie Woche" (therapy week) in Karlsruhe for German specialits for internal medicine. One topic at the Therapie Woche was "Passive smoking and its effect on health". The conclusion of the discussion was that the majority of scientists agreed that passive smoking cannot be classified as a health risk. 3) Airline smoking bans: The German airline Lufthansa has introduced a test smoking ban on 2 short flight circuits (40 to 50 minutes flying time) national flights. The VDC has an actionplan to encounter this Lufthansa activity. A test of British Airlines on the circuit to Berlin to introduce non-smoking flights was a failure. 4) Oppose Public Smoking Legislation / Restaurant bans At the present there are only about 1000 restaurants in Germany which have non-smoking areas. We do not forecast any further developements in division in restaurants in smoking and non-smoking areas. The VDC works with the DEHOGA (German Association of Hotels and Restaurants). The DEHOGA is against divisions in restaurants for specific non-smoking sections. The VDC is'preparing a brochure at the present to send to the restaurant-owners. 5) Smokers rights groups One smokers rights group in Germany is quite promissing at the moment. The "Raucher wehrt Eucht" (smokers defend yourselves) RAWE who fight for the smokers rights. VDC assists this association which is having its first successfull publications also successfull press and television appearances. 6) Libertad I am sending seperately per Telefax the documentation to this topic /

7) Warning labels As known the EEC is planing a harmonization of the warning labels. We are optimistic that the ideas of the EEC will not find the approval of the German Parliament and Government. Together with the VDC we are in constant contact with the decision makers in the Administration and in Parliament. 8) Training Programme Because of our international communications system training programmes are superfluous. Our management and employees have sufficient information material to the subject of smoking and health and in all questions of the company. 9) Excise Tax Seminar The question of tax is also being handled by the VDC. Our national tax policies correspond to the concept of the company. Next week G)nter Wille and I are having a meeting with the federal mini- ster of finance where we will present all our concepts on the subject of tax harmonization in the EC. 10) Recruitment of Spokespersons According to the company policy spokespersons in Germany are G)nter Wille and myself. G)nter Wille is trained for all appearances on television or other medias. 11) Crisis / Management We have our own crisis policy in the department which covers every possible company crisis. 12) Journalist programme Our journalist programme has confirmed itself. It consists of the following effective activities: Attending to approx. 300 journalists through agencies and information systems. Carefully directed invitations at the end of the year to journalists in the regions of Munich, D}sseldorf, Hamburg and Berlin to a closing dinner with 30 journalists each in each of the cities. 2 Journalist tours of USA with each 8 to 10 journalists. One group consists of young journalists up to 35 years of age and the other chief editors and deputy chief editors. Best regards and you will receive the LIBERTAD documentation seperately by,fax. Ferdi Breidbach