WESTMINSTER HOUSE 7 MILLBANK LONDON SWIF WE 01-222
1222
C. I.&L
I U N 1977
SECRET 1-71
RH/JC. 13th June, 1977.
Coov for C.H. Stewar: Loc-1-har:. IS-n.
Recently BAT was present at a meeting here in the
UK,
convened by Imperial Tobacco, and which was also
attended by
other major international tobacco companies. This
Group will
in future be known as "The International Committee
on Smoking
Issues ".
During the meeting the enclosed paper was
discussed
and all companies present agreed that it sum
marised the Industry Is
"philosophy" on a number of issues.
It is BAT's view that companies should table this
paper
within their own associations, with a view to its
adoption as a
working paper from which strategies and action
plans can be
developed relevant to local situations.
The meeting also agreed to the setting up of three
Working
Parties to consider and recommend 1xidustry action
on the following
areas:-
(i) Smoking Behaviour (chaired by BAT)
00 Medical Research (chaired by Imperial)
(iii) The Social Acceptability of Smoking
(chaired by R.J. Reynolds).
Die Wcrking Parties' recommendations are to be
submitted
BATCo document for Province of BritiSh Columbia 1
November 1999


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to the member companies by September 17th next and
will be
considered by the Group at their next meeting
in Lausanne in November.
With kind regards,
Yours sincerely,
Jv
(R.HADDON)
Enclosure:
BATCo document for Province of British Columbia I
November 1999


SECRET
POSMON PAPER
I. Medical Controversy
We acknowledge the fact that there is a continuing
smoking
and health controversy but we do not accept as
proven that
there is a causal relationship between smoking and
various
diseases (such as lung cancer, heart diseases,
bronchitis,
etc). The claimed relationship is primarily based
on
epidemiological or statistical associations. These
statistical
or epidemiclogical associations alone cannot
establish a cause
and effect relationship between smoking and
disease. Allso
it has become easier for some to indict smoking as
the primary
source of today's medical problems than to
confront the data
which suggest other explanations.
In our view the issue of causation remains
controversial and
unresolved. We adNocate the need for further
research into
the causes of those diseases with which smoking
has been
associated and into the nature of any relationship
between
smoking and such diseases.
To be effective, it is desirable that the tobacco
industry as a
whole must be seen to be responsible and, within
our field,
authoritative. Moreover, we believe it is better
to speak as
an industry with one voice on such matters and
that this can
often best be accomplished through national
associations of
manufacturers. In this connection, we believe it
important
that the industry assures that all appropriate
members are
kept advised of pertinent scientific, political,
social and other
developments.
2. Social Awareness, Responsibility and the
Social: Acceptability
of Smokinq
Because there is general sensitivity in respect of
our products
per se, we should at all times be particularly
vigilant in ensuring
that we remain beyond reproach concerning the
ordinary duties
and obligations we owe both our consumers and our
workers.
Whilst the opponents of smoking use emotional
arguments rather
than scientific facts in their attempts to make
smoking socially,--
unacceptable, we must ensure that we never
knowingly mislead
our consumers ,rho must believe that as
manufacturers at all
BATCO document for Province of British COIUMbia I
November 1999


2
times we are acting responsibly and have concern
for their
interests. We should state quite properly and
responsibly
thatview of the smoking and health controversy
that recognises
that the causation issue remains controversial and
u-iresolved.
We take the view that to date there is no
persuasive scientific
evidence to support the contention that the
non-smoker is harmed
by the tobacco smoke of others. However, it is our
position
that both smokers and non-smokers should be
considerate of
each other.
3. Disclosure of Information
We should influence as far as proper medical and
official opinion
against incautious imposition of constraints and
any unnecessar"!
restrictions on smoking. To do this it may be
necessary to tall:
to medical authorities and Government agenCLes.
Our legitimate objectives must include protection
of the interests
of our consumers.
Where the Industry is spcnsoring health research
it should, as
appropriate, keep others, including members of the
industr-y in
other countries, informed.
An Industry in one country might, when
appropriate, make known
the research in other countries.
4. The Role of Government in a Free Societv
The Industry believes that smokers are well aware
of the claimed
health effects of smoking. Information is
available to the public
from a variety of sources. The traditional role of
Government
in a free society with reference to legal products
is to inform
people, to give them the facts or to see that they
are given the
facts, and to leave the exercise of free choice to
the individual.
5. Warninq Clauses
If Governments propose wording implying or stating
smoking
causes certain diseases, Companies must
strenuously resist
with all means at their disposal.
BATCo document for Province of BritiSh Columbia 1
November 1999


3
6. Leaque Tables
So far there is no valid scientific basis for
combining measure-
ments of different chemical compounds in the smoke
of an
individual cigarette brand into a single index
number as to
represent a measure of implied hazard relative to
other brands
Such aggregation implies unjustifiable judgments
of the strength
of association between chemical compounds and
diseases. Such
arbitrary indices of hazard cannot receive any
serious scientific
support and their introduction should be resisted
wherever poss-
ible.
7. Maximum "Tar" and Nicotine Limits
The imposition of maximum "tar" and nicotine
yields, as well
as attempts by Governments to tax high "tar"
products different-
ially to those with lower deliveries, should be
resisted.
8. Advertisina
It is the Industry view that there is no valid
evidence to support
the contention that advertising increases total
consumption of
cigarettes. - Advertising may affect the sales
distribution among
individual companies or specific brands. In
attempting to obtain
the best possible shares of the market cigarette
manufacturers
have used competitive advertising to inform the
consumer of
product availability, modifications and
innovations.
In view of the existence of the medical
controversy, in any advert-
ising, claims, -express or implied, that one
cigarette is healthier
or less harmful than another should be avoided.
We should resist restrictions on media
advertising; however,
in the area of voluntary agreements with
Governments we should
recognise that there is a limit beyond which the
Industry cannot
make further concessions.
9. Declaration of Constituents
%%L- should resist any requirements to put figures
for the yields
of smoke constituents or "tar" groups on packs or
in advertising~_
BATCo document for Province of British Columbia I
November 1999


4
10. Research
Research plays a key role in our reaction to the
attacks on
smcking. It is incumbent an a responsible
manufacturer to
understand the allegations against smoking
products, and to
acquire on a continuing basis as much knowledge as
possible
of his croducts .
It is our policy to further support work on the
scientific smoking
and health controversy. The results of such
scientific investig-
ations must be made available to the public by
appropriate means.
11. Product Liabilitv
We should keep aware of. examine carefully and
take appropriate
action when advisable with respect to the laws and
proposed
chances in the laws concerning product liability.
12. Cicarette Manufacturers' Associations
We accept the need of national cigarette
manufacturers' assoc-
iaticns and give them full support.
We lbeUeve that the Industrv's activities in the
smoking and
healt!"I field should be carried out by or through
the Associations,
whenever this is appropriate.
10 th Ju-2.
BATCo document for Province of British Columbia I
November 1999