This unprecedented crisis due to the Covid-19 (coronavirus) pandemic brings its share of surprises every day. Today, we learn that Big Tobacco could have taken advantage of the current health crisis due to the coronavirus to improve its image and gain entries towards political figures.
BENEFACTORS OR UNHEALTHY LOBBYING?
Two giants of the tobacco industry deny using the current health crisis due to the coronavirus to improve their image and gain entry to political figures.
In question, the gift of Papastratos, a sector of Philip Morris International, from 50 respirators to hospitals in Greece, to help them at the peak of the pandemic. Or this other donation from Philip Morris International, which would have reached a million dollars, to the Romanian Red Cross. Philip Morris International and Imperial Tobacco have, moreover, both donated sums of money to Ukraine.
Opponents of these companies denounce acts of lobbying to push the governments of the countries in question to relax the restrictions imposed on the tobacco industry. They also point out, unlike a study that has been published, that tobacco consumption increases the risk of suffering from a severe or even fatal form of Covid-19.
For others, it simply violates the FCTC, World Health Organization (WHO) Framework Convention for tobacco control, a treaty which came into force in 2005 to combat the effects of tobacco consumption.
THE TOBACCO INDUSTRY DEFENDS "FROM ALL PUBLICITY"
Philip Morris International and Imperial Tobacco have both dismissed the charges and deny violating the WHO framework convention, claiming authorities have asked them for help. " Imperial Tobacco
Ukraine is a major employer in Kyiv. Regional authorities and local groups have asked us to donate a ventilator to the hospital. "Thus defended the company in a press release sent to our colleagues atEuronews.
Nataliya Bondarenko, Director of External Affairs of Philip Morris Ukraine, ensures that the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky called on top business leaders to help during the Covid-19 crisis. " WHO Framework Convention does not prohibit interactions between business enterprises and state bodies She said, referring to the actions of her group in Ukraine, Romania and Greece. " It requires the parties to act within the framework of national public health and tobacco control law relating to the commercial and other interests of the anti-tobacco industry. This provision implies that regulators must act with impartiality and transparency. Our donation was made in full compliance with the law, demonstrating our integrity and transparency"
It remains only for the Dr. Mary Assunta, responsible for global research and the defense of human rights Global Center for Good Governance in Tobacco Control who works more particularly on the international policy of tobacco control, these donations contravene two provisions of the FCTC.
« Currently, many governments are vulnerable because they lack funds to fight the pandemic. Companies like Philip Morris are exploiting this situation to donate to organizations and governments. It's part of their strategy to repair their image and gain access to politicians »She declares.
Source : Euronews
