NO ODPIES MAY BE MADE
Priorities for R&D
36. Mr. Mercier reported the results of the
meeting wh.ch he had chaired, the
object of which was to obtain the views of the
GroJ$-K~-*trag directo-r-s-.
on specific product developments which they
believed should be given a
high priority within R&D.
37. It was noted that--
(a) The marketing directors believed that the
highest priority should be
projects aimed at understanding the chemo-sensory
basis for matching
taste and for developing products which consumers
considered to be
superior to Marlboro. Associated work to
understand smokers'
behaviour and to develop improved methods/
techniques for blind tests
was also considered to be valuable as was work to
reduce bitterness
and irritation.
(b) It was also agreed that it was important to
develop cigarettes with
reduced tar-nicotine ratios to prepare for
expected trends in
regulatory regimes and in consumer tastes.
(c) There was less market interest in developments
leading to cigarettes
with a reduced ignition potential, reduced
sidestream smoke and
'environmental friendly' characteristics. However,
there was general
agreement that biodegradable filters would be a
worthwhile
development.
(d) There was virtually no marketing interest in
'novel' cigarettes
or in alternative materials and structures.
38. It was agreed that the marketing directors had
provided a useful input to
the discussion of the research programme but the
Chairman stressed that
the Team also needed to take a broader and longer
term view of research
priorities.
39. In particular, he believed that although low
ignition cigarettes here
recognised as being important in only two
countries at present,
recognition of this requirement could spread to
other countries in the
future and it was important to be prepared to
react to this.
40. Similarly, although low levels of sidestream
smoke are not seen as a
positive marketing feature, it was necessary to
keep up with developments
by other manufacturers and to keep ahead of public
opinion. He suggested
that there should be an objective to reduce
sidestrean smoke by quantified
amounts over time. It was asked that there should
be a progress report on
this topic early in 1991.
41. It was noted that following the R&D
conference, Mr. Heard would present
his proposals for the Research Programme at the
next meeting of the Team,
due to be held in November.
42. The Chairman asked Team members to consider
before the next meeting:-
(a) The value of the marketing conference in
providing an input to the
R&D programme.
(b) The effectiveness of the current arrangements
for technical liaison
within the Group and possible ways in which these
might be modified
to improve the interchange of information and to
reduce wasteful
duplication of work.
43. It was noted that the marketing directors had
suggested that they should cc
have further meetings to discuss marketing
strategy. but it was felt that
strategy was the responsibility of the Team itself
rather than the
Marketing directors. However, it was agreed that
there could be a case
for organising meetings to discuss marketing
techniques and to share
experience on sponsorship, etc.
BATCo document for Province of British Columbia 25
October 1999