Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
• Submissions for WHO public hearings (NMAs [national manufacturers associations],
trade, advertising industry) secured in russia, Germany, Hungary, Ukraine, France,
Poland …
• Inb: constructive input from russia, Uzbekistan, belarus, Moldova, baltics (lioutyi
2000).
bat's public statements regarding the Fctc were notable for the comparative
vehemence of their denunciations. Prominence was repeatedly given to claims
that the proposed convention constituted an attack on the sovereignty of member
states, with the WHO depicted as foisting a first world agenda on developing
countries and neglecting its traditional mission in combating communicable
disease. Martin broughton (2000), chair of bat, depicted the Fctc as embodying
a 'new colonialism' that sought to 'impose the values of the developed world on
the developing countries … hindering the socio-economic advancement of the
developing world by seeking to undermine their comparative advantage'.
although such criticisms were echoed, less stridently, by Japan tobacco (assunta
and chapman 2006), Philip Morris distanced itself from this antagonistic approach and
adopted a conciliatory stance. a strategic review in 1999 concluded that 'wHo
benefits from “an uncompromising, ruthless, reasonable and predatory” industry'
and warned that any opposition to the Fctc 'is likely to be depicted as opposition
to the least controversial elements' (Philip Morris 1999). the process 'could provide
PM [Philip Morris] with an opportunity to constructively engage in a worldwide
effort to curb underage use of tobacco products', rather than view the Fctc only
as a threat. the public pursuit of constructive engagement subsequently became the
leitmotif in Philip Morris publications. In turn, bat came to view Philip Morris's
conciliatory stance on regulation as exacerbating the threat to its global interests. as
outlined in a summary of the status of bat's wHo campaign in 2000:
We [BAT] affirmed that the seriousness of regulatory threats against BAT are increasing
on the back of the FCTC process and besides the WHO itself … PMI [Philip Morris]
presents the other main challenge to our local interests. essentially, while the Fctc was
driving a multilateral regulatory model, its work was fuelling a rise in local regulation,
on the back of which we fully expect PMI to exploit the situation and to promote its own
competitive advantage. this presents bat with a dual challenge which we need to meet
rapidly … we agreed that given bat's heritage, global business structure and objectives,
it would be difficult for the group to come up with a standard agreed regulatory formula,
or 'one-size-fits-all' approach, which PMI would more likely try to propagate—consistent
with its public statement of strong support for the Fctc (vecchiet 2000).
Corporate Social Responsibility and the Avoidance of Regulation
while all leading tobacco companies have adopted the language of responsible
conduct within a controversial industry, the most enthusiastic advocates have been
