[Intl-tobacco] Philip Morris: The "Reasonable" Approach

[Robert Weissman]

Philip Morris: Could OK Regs
by Skip Wollenberg / AP Business Writer
Source: AP, Thursday, 8/31/00

NEW YORK =96=96 Philip Morris, the world's biggest tobacco company, is tell=
ing
the World Health Organization that it could support sensible global
regulations on smoking and would like to have a broader role in helping
develop them.

The company, which makes Marlboro and other cigarette brands, told the
U.N.  health agency that while it supports measures to keep youngsters
from smoking, the regulations should preserve the right of adults to smoke
and treat tobacco companies equally.

Philip Morris outlined its position in a statement submitted in advance of
the health agency's October hearings in Geneva to deal with curbing
tobacco use and reducing the number of deaths from smoking worldwide.

WHO hopes its member governments can negotiate a global treaty on tobacco
control by May 2003.

New York-based Philip Morris appeared to be taking a more conciliatory
approach to the process than British American Tobacco had earlier this
week in its filing when it described the agency's global proposals as
"fundamentally flawed" and won't work.

British American Tobacco, based in London, is the world's second biggest
tobacco company with brands such as Kool and Lucky Strike.

Thursday's deadline for comments on tobacco regulation comes only a few
weeks after the WHO accused big tobacco companies of waging a covert
campaign "well into the 1990s" to subvert its efforts to reduce smoking.

Philip Morris, which along with BAT was named in the report, said while it
had opposed the WHO in the past, "inferences of improper influence are not
accurate,"

In its filing late Wednesday on the proposed global regulations, Philip
Morris conceded it has "at times had an adversarial relationship" with the
agency.

"We are convinced that we should not allow the past to lock us into an
endless cycle of contentiousness and acrimony, or stand in the way of
making real progress =96 now =96 on issues that are legitimately of concern=
 to
governments and consumers around the world," the Philip Morris filing
said.

The company said it shared the agency's "desire to make progress" on many
issues that have been proposed for discussion including preventing youth
smoking, "reasonable" restrictions on marketing, package labeling and
smoking in public places and regulation of the content of tobacco
products.

"We support national governments' efforts to provide for sensible and
effective regulation of cigarettes," it said.

But it said it opposed some other elements of WHO's proposal such as an
internationally-determined tax rate on cigarettes, using "shock" images in
health warnings and failing to allow business owners to provide areas for
smoking.

It said WHO also regrettably "fails to recognize tobacco consumption as a
legitimate choice that adults should be free to make."

The company said it intended to appear at the public hearings, but said it
would like to be allowed more involvement than the prescribed five-minute
presentation and the five-page written statement. It said it would like to
invited to the working sessions and be consulted regarding the treaty.

David Greenberg, a spokesman for Philip Morris, said the company could
find common ground with the WHO on three-quarters of the 20 or so proposed
topics.

Asked whether Philip Morris would support a treaty with some elements it
opposes, he said "We'll have to cross that bridge when we get there."

"We are not trying to draw an unalterable line in the sand and say "Step
over this and we are out of the process," Greenberg said.

=96=96=96

On the Net:

Philip Morris site: http://philipmorris.com/tobacco=96bus

British American Tobacco site: http://www.bat.com

World Health Organization site: http://www.who.int