Guidance to UK embassies on tobacco industry (fwd)

[Robert Weissman <rob@essential.org>]

Dear friends

The UK Governemnt has announced its new restrictions on UK diplomatic posts
dealing with the tobacco industry.  The basic idea seems to be to allow
technical business services, but prevent diplomats being involved in any
sort of promotion.  It also suggests that UK will help with advice/expertise
on tobacco control.

You might be interested to know that part of the guidelines includes: "Posts
should bear in mind that the international tobacco control lobby is
increasingly well organised, and pressure groups may seek to highlight any
apparently controversial involvement in any event sponsored by a tobacco
company."

Regards

Clive Bates (UK ASH(

Here is the full guidance.

+++++++++++++++++++++
Guidelines to overseas posts:

"1. The Government's White Paper on Tobacco, presented to Parliament in
December 1998, contained the following sentences concerning the role of
Posts overseas:

"We are not in the business of banning the production or export of tobacco
products, and the DTI and our embassies will continue to provide advice, to
which UK companies are entitled, in the sale of legal products. However, in
keeping with the current practice of Ministers and officials not becoming
involved in the advertising or promotion of tobacco products at home,
guidelines will shortly be issued to our diplomatic posts instructing them
to be scrupulous to ensure that they follow suit overseas, taking into
account local circumstances."

Guidelines:

2. Posts must no longer directly promote products containing tobacco,
whether through advertising or through publicly associating HMG with their
sale, especially where this might be misconstrued as some form of government
endorsement or approval of them. However, given the general,
non-discriminatory basis of British Trade International services and other
UK government support for business--which, as a matter of principle, are
available to all British companies, provided their products are mainly of UK
origin and are legal--Posts should nonetheless, if approached, offer support
and advice to assist UK tobacco companies through the provision of trade,
investment and political information. While it may be true that such
companies rarely, in any case, seek HMG assistance in their exporting
effort, it will be important that Posts scrupulously adhere to these new
guidelines, after taking into account local circumstances. Posts should bear
in mind that the international tobacco control lobby is increasingly well
organised, and pressure groups may seek to highlight any apparently
controversial involvement in any event sponsored by a tobacco company.

3. It follows from the above that Posts should not inter alia be associated
in any way with the promotion of the tobacco industry, for example by
accepting advertisements for UK or local tobacco products in publications
issued by the Post, or sponsorship from tobacco companies for their
activities, including Chevening Scholarships. Nor should they attend or
otherwise support receptions or high profile events--especially those where
a tobacco company is the sole or main sponsor--which are overtly to promote
tobacco products, such as the official opening of a UK tobacco factory
overseas; events where tobacco sponsorship is more low-key (for example,
among several sponsors of a visiting orchestra) can be attended. Posts may
also continue to offer assistance to UK tobacco companies in other ways,
such as in resolving business problems--customs or port clearance,
smuggling, trademark violations etc--that are potentially discriminatory.
They may also provide information and assistance on foreign country policies
and investment opportunities including advice to help them comply with
foreign government laws or regulations.

4. In short, unless otherwise specified above, Posts should not support
activities designed specifically to encourage smoking. Posts have the
delegated authority to decide for themselves whether any proposed action on
their part is in keeping with these new regulations, but may refer to London
for decision--to the FCO geographical department (if there are political
implications) or JEPD--where this is felt necessary.

5. The White Paper also stressed the Government's wish to encourage and
support the efforts of other countries to strengthen their own tobacco
control strategies. Requests for help, particularly with expertise, should
be passed to the Department of Health (Health Promotion Division).

6. These guidelines will take effect from 1 June 1999."

Parliamentary answer available at:
http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/cm199899/cmhansrd/cm990
518/text/90518w14.htm#90518w14.html_spnew5

Clive Bates
Action on Smoking and Health
16 Fitzhardinge Street
London W1H 9PL
Tel: +44-(0)171-224-0743
Fax: +44-(0)171-224-0471
Web: http://www.ash.org.uk/