Tobacco Documents Online

FINAL DRAFT-4/2/86 ACTION ALERT Attention: ICC National Committees Sub ect: 1986 World Health Assembly * * * * * * The upcoming World Health Assembly (May 5-16, 1986-Geneva) will cover several issues of major concern to the international corporate community - affecting infant formula, tobacco, and pharmaceutical industries, as well as the implications which these may have with regard to potential spill-over to such categories as alcoholand food processing. In each case WHO may be faced with pressure from special interest groups to broaden its efforts in areas beyond those relating strictly to health and into areas having strong commer- cial/economic components. This will be consistent with a trend witnessed recently within the WHO, whereby activist organizations having a strong anti-private sector prejudice have promoted an adversarial approach between business and,consumers. Through this note, the ICC provides information on these three items, and ur es its national committees workin with the a ro riate industr asso- c at ons to commun cate to t eir nat ona governments at t e ear iest possi- ble opportunity t e concerns o t e us ness community. The ICC regrets that this "call to action" is being issued so close to the WHA, scheduled for May 5-16, 1986. However, we only recently received the agenda for the WHA, and recognized the full extent of agenda items having major potential ramifications for industry. Given the short timeframe, we would urge national committees to take steps as quickly as possible to contact their governments, and to convey industry views on the issues to be covered at WHA. Each of you will be familiar with the best means of proceeding in your own countries. However, we would make the following suggestions which might facilitate your efforts: ° In making your approach, it will be critical that you identify the delegates from your country who will be closely involved in ~, the debate on the three items of tobacco, breast milk substitutes, o and pharmaceuticals. The Ministry of Health will be the governmental ~ agency most directly involved with the WHO's programs. However, ~ other Ministries including Agriculture, Trade/Economics, Foreign 0 Affairs, Finance and Labor will have an interest in this issue ~ ~' and should also be contacted. We will attempt to provide you

with a list of last year's delegates, but would caution that this may not be an accurate indication of who will attend this year. The relevant industry associations may be able to provide a better indication of likely delegates. ° In formulating your approach, the appropriate industry association might be useful in terms of providing background briefing materials and in identifying the relevant government representatives. Following are the contact points for the infant formula and pharmaceutical industries: " Infant Formula: International Association of Infant Food Manufacturers (IFM) 194 Rue de Rivoli Paris, France Telephone: 33-1-4-260 3012 Executive Director: Johan Ganzevoort Pharmaceutical: International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Associations (IFPMA) 67 Rue de Saint Jean 1201 Geneva, Switzerland Telephone: 22-326317 Executive Director: Richard Arnold Tobacco: Mr. Bryan Simpson Secretary General INFOTAB Rue Montoyer 10 Box No. 2 1040 Brussels, Belgium Telephone: 32-2-5-11-91-10 Telex: 24218 National committees might also find it useful to contact Janette Buraas, the ICC's liaison to the U.N. in Geneva. Ms. Buraas can be reached at: 15 Chemin Francois Lehmann CH-1218 Grand Saconnex Geneva, Switzerland Telephone: (022) 98 31 64 Telex: 422442 Finally, we would urge national committees to keep the ICC informed of their contacts with their governments and any feedback resulting from those con- tacts. They should notify Marie C. Psimenos, First Director, ICC. -2-