RESTRICTED
RESEARCH CONFERENCE
MONTEBELLO. CANADA
Wa
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30 th August 3rd September 1982
PRESENT:
Dr L C F Blackman
Mr P M Denton
Dr P J Dunn
Mr R H Gibb
Mr A L Heard
Mr R G Nicholls
Herrn E Rittershaus
Dr R A Sanford
Dr F Seehofer
Dr C J P de Siqueira
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BATCO document for Province of BritiSh Columbia 9
November 1999


S U M M A R Y
Before formally considering the 3-year Group R&D
Programme for
1983-5, the major part of this year's Conference
(Part I) was
spent discussing a number of topics of major
importance to the
Group.
Human Smoking Behaviour
Smoke Quality/Activity
Environmental (Ambient/Sidestream) Smoke
Tobacco Breeding and Processing
Flavour Research
A number of other items were also discussed (Part
II). Against
this background, the Draft programme for 1983-5
was agreed,
subject to the changes or recommendations detailed
in the notes
that follow in Part III.
A paper on Research Policy, to be submitted to the
BATCo Manage-
ment Board on 28 October, will refer to the main
conclusions
of the Conference. The corresponding budget
expenditure will
be presented at the meeting on 29th November.
Although final figures are not yet available, it
is estimated
that the cost of the 1983 programme will be about
E100,000
lower than that for 1982 (E9.22 m against f9.31 in
1982 figures)
and also slightly below the estimate made last
year.
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BATCo document for Province of British Columbia 9
November 1999


P A R T I
SUBJECTS OF MAJOR GROUP IMPORTANCE
HUMAN SMOKING BEHAVIOUR
1. This is the major area for Research and
Development to
equip BAT with commercially competitive products.
There
are signs that Philip Morris has an extremely
strong
research effort, and while BAT in total has a
reasonable
level of expertise, the work is spread between
GR&DC and
other CAC Laboratories. It is vital, therefore,
that the
co-ordination process which has been started must
be
continued and intensified.
2. More must be known about how different
consumers smoke
different products and derive different levels of
satisfaction
or response therefrom. We are concerned with two
aspects:
(a) Sensations and responses at the mouth
level - which influence initial
selection and brand loyalty.
(b) The pharmacological result of smoke
uptake.
3. In an effort to gain a better understanding
about the
interaction between product and consumer, Germany
is
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November 1999


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developing an improved KIPA technique to extend
the
capability to the calculation of total mouth level
delivery - to give some idea about how vigorously
a
cigarette has been smoked on a puff by puff basis.
The
emphasis is on developing products with enhanced
smoking
characteristics that are both recognisable and
credible
to the consumer.
4. Canada will continue to use the puff
duplication technique,
which is valid for comparative work, and will
concentrate
on the influence of product design features on
smoking
behaviour, eg inclusion of expanded tobacco,
pressure drop,
tipping and low delivery products generally.
5. Support was given for B&W's proposal to
consider the
development of means of monitoring smoking
behaviour
through surreptitious observation using video
techniques.
6. The GR&DC programme on smoking behaviour, which
is expanding
in effort and scope, includes an investigation of
the
theory that there is market segmentation based on
smoking
behavioural characteristics; the Conference
attached
importance to probing the psychological basis of
the
segmentation, particularly relating to:
(a) Delivery levels of quitters/re-atarters
and the possible overriding influence
of cost.
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November 1999


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(b) Behavioural characteristics of lifetime
smokers of low delivery products
most likely to be found in the younger
age groups of those countries with
a well developed low delivery market,
eg Canada and USA.
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It was agreed that the GR&DC programme should aim
to extend
our knowledge on the biochemistry and pharmacology
associated
with the inhalation of major smoke components.
7. The GR&DC programme is also exploring new
concepts of
consumer testing and smoking behaviour methods,
including
physiological/pharmacological appr6ach. in the
broad quest
for identifying the design routes to enhance or
maximise
sensory and pharmacological sensations, ie to
'make the
smoke work harder' so as to achieve maximum
sensation- at a
given delivery level without encouraging the
smoker to
compensate.
S. It was felt that there is an urgent need for
close
collaboration between R&D and Marketing in the
area of
smoking behaviour - in particular to give
marketing research
new techniques to identify and exploit new market
segments
based on smoking behaviour rather than on simple
socio-
demographic areas. To this end, key Mar -keting
personnel
will be invited to the planned 1983 Smoking
Behaviour
Conference - which might start with two or three
days on
purely scientific aspects and then become & joint
R&D/Marketing discussion.
9. There should be greater routine use of flexible
or
programmable smoking machines.so that the puff by
puff
smoke chemistry of new product designs can be
assessed
against more realistic human smoking regimes than
that
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November 1999


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10. It was recognised that compensation is
attracting
increasing attention worldwide. BAT must have more
knowledge and develop better techniques with
particular
reference to biochemical markers - not only to be
able to
respond to the attacks of anti-smokers but as a
possible
basis for the development of commercially
competitive new
product designs.
SMOKE QUALITY
11. Despite intense research over the past 25
years, the
biological activity of smoke remains a major
challenge.
In particular, it is not known in*quantitative
terms
whether thd smoke from modern low and ultra-low
delivery
products has a lower specific biological activity
than
that from previous high delivery products. Nor is
it
clearly established (other than in broad terms
such as
sheet and stem) what are the main factors that
influence
biological activity. In the UK, the Independent
Scientific
Committee is calling for information on the
quality of
smoke from modern products, but the formulation of
an
appropriate research programme will prove
extremely
difficult and will need very careful planning. The
US
Surgeon General has previously also drawn
attention to the
general need for a better understanding of
biological
activity.
12. In a survey of the current US scene, the broad
area of
smoking and health (less hazardous cigarette,
additives,
self-extinguishing cigarette), the possibility was
identified
that a competitor could in the future well make
competitive
capital out of health-related attributes, eg low
nitrosamines
or even a biological index.
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BATCo document for Province of British Columbia 9
November 1999


-5-
13. The.Canadiaa contribution to the Group
Biological Programme,
which is closely co-ordinated with GR&DC, will
concentrate
on factors that might influence mutagenic,
activity:
(a) Different tobacco types including
sheet.
(b) Smoking regime - human vs standard
smoking machine.
(c) Product design features.
The research at KcGill University, which is funded
by
the Canadian Tobacco Manufacturer~;' Council, will
also
contribute to Group knowledge.
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November 1999


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ENVIRONMENTAL (AMBIENTISIDESTREAM) SMOKE
14. The strong growth of medical, scientific and
media concern
and comment in this area was acknowledged. The
subject is
extremely complex and it is essential to keep
separate in
our thinking:
(a) health issues
(b) social issues
(c) new commercial product opportunities.
(a) and (b) represent constraints on the tobacco
industry
as a whole, but within them lies the opportunity
for
commercial exploitation (c).
15. Sidestream has long been known to be different
chemically
from mainstream, but only very recently have there
been
signs from GR&DC inhalation studies that the
biological
activity of sidestream may also be significantly
different
from mainstream.
An early design of reduced sidestream product
developed
at GR&DC has recently been screened. The
Conference
agreed urgent need both to confirm the initial
findings
and to evaluate the alternative prototype designs
that are
available. At the same time, the mechanisms
involved
should be investigated since they may point the
directions
for radically improved products.
16. The German Verband.programme on passive
smoking (on the
formulation of which GR&DC has been closely
informed) was
outlined and regarded as a potentially valuable
source of
information to the Group as a whole - albeit on a
carefully_
controlled basis.
Go
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November 1999


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17. The-personal paper by Dr Ian Ayres was
regarded as a useful
contribution in that it highlighted our need for
better
knowledge and understanding of the key chemical
and
biological aspects of environmental smoke.
Much further thought is clearly required but
specifically
it was recommended that:
(a) We must get hard data both to help
counter anti-smoking attacks, and to
support the design of future products.
Against the background, however, of
the earlier industry research into
mainstream smoke, it is essential
that the initial programme is
confined to realistic financial and
technical limits.
(b) We should keep within BAT:
i~) animal results on sidestream
activity
ii) thoughts on the biological
activity of sidestream
iii) research findings on the consumer
annoyance aspects of environmental
smoke - since these have potential
commercial value.
(c) Dr Ayres' paper should be discussed in
confidence with Peter Lee and Francis
Roe with the aim of guiding the research
under
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BATCo document for Province of British Columbia 9
November 1999


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It was also recommended that BAT should be
prepared to
share on an industry basis the development of
techniques
for monitoring chemicals in environmental smoke.
18. In view of the fast growing importance of
environmental
smoke, it was agreed that there should be close
communication
on research between GR&DC, B&W, Canada ana Germany
- with
regular meetings of experts at not more than six
month
intervals.
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BATCo document for Province of British Columbia 9
November 1999


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TOBACCO BREEDING
19. The German programme, which is now
formally"monitored by
the Leaf Steering Committee, is the only in-house
resource
uniquely available to the BAT Group. It
demonstrates a
high level of innovation and scientific research
on tobacco
breeding (eg for high nicotine and enhanced
flavour
maybe with the use of the recently developed
technique
of aroma printing). Application of any successful
new
varieties is likely to be feasible in other
tobacco
growing areas.
20. The Brazil research programme, also monitored
by the Leaf
Steering Committee, is aimed both at modifying
conventional
practice (eg to enhance flavour of Virginia
varieties and.
reduce nitrate accumulation of Burley) and at
developing a
viable commercial route to the production of leaf
gum
extracts for flavour enhancement. The latter work
is
closely related to the collaborative research
programme of
GR&DC and Swedish Tobacco.
TOBACCO PROCESSING
21. The Brazil research programme, which is
undertaken on
behalf of Group R&D, is now well underway. The
objective
is to identify where significant changes in major
flavour
chemicals occur within the whole process' of
curing,
threshing, ageing and primary processing. Not all
the 1981
tobacco has been analysed, but reports are being
issued
(six to date) at appropriate stages. The second
year run
(which included investigations on Burley) is being
analysed,
and plans for the third year are being made. These
will
include preliminary studies on the effect of
processing on
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November 1999


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FLAVOUR RESEARCH
22. The very recent German identification of
individual
cembranoid and carotenoid compounds represents a
potentially
valuable breakthrough in the quest for flavour
enhancers.
It is essential that the German and GR&DC research
teams
continue to collaborate closely - and that as soon
as
possible the analytical procedures are transmitted
to
Brazil for incorporation in their studies of the
generation
and fate of flavour chemicals in
breeding/growing/curing/
threshing/ageing/primary processing.
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BATCo document for Province of British Columbia 9
November 1999


_11-
P A R T I I
OTHER GENERAL ISSUES
COMPUTER AIDED PRODUCT DESIGN
23. The German presentation on recent application
of computer
systems underlined the importance of the wider
innovative
use of computer technology throughout the BAT
Group. Its
value was demonstrated in a multi-dimensional
analysis of
competitor products.
THE FUTURE
24. The paper prepared by Dr Kilburn was well
received. It
was agreed that when he completes his detailed
discusions
in Germany, Canada and the US, a signifiiaant
experimental
programme should be initiated at GR&DC to develop
radically
different cigarette product designs that might
respond to
the needs of the next decade. Cheaper, less
polluting and
lower activity cigarettes could well be based on
structured
tobacco rods, with &a inert filter (eg carbonised
cellulose)
and judiciously placed additives.
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BATCo document for Province of British Columbia 9
November 1999


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COMPETITORS
25. The decision of the Conference last year that
GR&DC should
develop a pilot computer system for storage and
retrieval
of competitor information has been undertaken. It
is
thought, however, that it is unlikely that the
system will
prove to be effective in BAT Group terms. The most
useful
information almost certainly arises from chance
contacts -
which, while they may be effective at national
levels, are
not amenable to formal assessment and
communication at the
BAT Centre. It was agreed, therefore, that the
system
should be "put on ice" pending further
consideration.
PATENTS
26. The effectiveness of the patent communication
procedure,
agreed at the 1980 Conference and introduced last
year,
should be evaluated. In the light of this, thought
should
be given to the Patent Agents from the main
centres meeting
on, say, an annual basis to consider the
commercialisation
of patents, and other matters such as infringement
activity
around the Group.
INTERBAT
27. Progress in the wider use of INTERBAT was
thought to be good;
the limiting factor is generally the availability
of telephone
links to connect national computer systems with
GR&DC.
ANALYTICAL DEVELOPMENT
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28. Consideration should be given to the use of
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November 1999


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GERMAN OFF-TASTE TnEATMENT
29. In view of the recent move of a high informed
member of
GR&DC staff to Reynolds, it was agreed that
Germany should
patent the process in selected key countries.
STAFF INTERCHANGE
30. Every effort should be made to encourage and
facilitate
the secondment or transfer of staff between CAC
Companies
and GR&DC.
NATIONAL MANUFACTURER ASSOCIATIONS
31. It was agreed that it would be helpful if
approval of the
relevant NMA's should be sought for the
circulation among
Conference members of an outline of their
organisational
structure and main technical activities.
FUTURE RESEARCH CONFERENCE TOPICS
32. Suggestions for key areas to be discussed in
the first
part of the next Conference included Benefits of
Smoking,
the technical thrust of anti-smoker organisations
and
staff motivation.
FUTURE MEETINGS
33. The next Research Conference should be
mid/late August in
Brazil. The opportunity should be taken to have
detailed
presentations on the leaf processing researches.
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November 1999


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34. In May/June each year in Southampton, there
should be a
full week review of progress on all the main GR&DC
Work
Areas. The level of representatives should'reflect
the
broad scope of the work. In general, the
representatives
should be of higher level than this year.
35. The following Technical Exchange meetings are
proposed:
Smoking Behaviour Louisville
Computer Modelling Southampton
Primary Processing Germany ?
Chemical Analysis Southampton
Subjective Testing Techniques ?
Applied Flavour Technology ?
36. In addition.
mid/late April?
May/June
1984?
1984?
1985?
1986
(a) there should be a meeting of Group
combustion specialists at Southampton -
hopefully before the end of the year -
to discuss and evaluate the GR&DC work.
(b) A group of Biological specialists from
Canada, Germany, US and GR&DC should
meet annually.
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BATCo document for Province of British Columbia 9
November 1999


P A R T I I I
...............
GR&DC PROGRAMME 1983-5
The recent changes in staff at Southampton were
explained and the steady growth of new young
graduates
was noted.
It was also noted that the projections made last
year
regarding continued controlled reduction of staff,
and the
consequential effect on budget expenditure, have
been
achieved. Projections for 1983-5 are slightly
lower than
those figures forecast last year.
In the light of the discussions in Part I, the
following
specific recommendations were made regarding the
proposed
revisions to be embodied in the 1983-5 Group
Research &
Development Programme.
01. BIOLOGICAL
The 1983-5 programme should concentrate on the
priority
needs. for example: specific activity of high and
low
delivery cigarettes (including ventilation versus
filtration),
denitrated tobacco, biological fate of nicotine in
the
human system, expanded tobacco. sidestream. While
recognising the need for technique development,
this should
be shown clearly as a supportive activity and not
as an C:3
end in itself.
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November 1999


-16-
other areas for action by GR&DC were agreed:-
(a) A review of all that is currently
known relevant to the biological
activity of whole smoke (as opposed
to tar condensate) - to cover both
test methods and major findings.
The review should anticipate the
likely trends in both-competitor
activity and Government moves, eg
in the formulation of a biological
activity index.
(b) A comparative biological assay of a
range of BAT major commercial and
innovative product designs - to assess
the commercial possibilities of
exploiting products of low biological
activity.
(c) To evaluate the theory that certain
nitrogen-containing components are
major precursors of smoke mutagenicity,
a carefully designed and limited
programme should be undertaken. One
approach may be the spiking of neutral
cell'ulose substrate.with selected
nitrogenous materials.
The Work Area objective should be altered to
reflect these
more specific targets.
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02 FILTERS
The proposed programme was basically accepted but
there
should be emphasis on understanding the mechanisms
involved
in selective filtration and on any consequential
effects
thereof in terms of smoke behaviour and sensory
response.
03. NITROSAMINES
There was support for the identification of this
as a new
Work Area. It was emphasized, however, that the
approach
should be two-pronged, ie:
(i) Understanding the routes by which-
nitrosamines in whole smoke are
formed, and possible modification
thereof by additives etc.
(ii) Selective removal of nitrosamines.
Before starting experimental work on the
environmental
analysis of nitrosamines, the past work of Wynder
and
Hoffmann. Philip Morris and the German Verband
should be
fully appraised.
04. FUTURE TECHNOLOGIES
Approval was given for the proposal to define a
programme
for this new Work Area, based an discussions
between GR&DC
and Canada, Germany and B&W.
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November 1999


05. COMBUSTION
While generally accepting the overall proposals,
attention
was drawn to the growing need for emphasis on
semi-volatile
and vapour phase components - in particular to
gain better
understanding of their roles in biological
activity and in
sensory perception.
The combustion programme should link closely with
the
innovative work on. structured cigarette designs;
B&W
have made some advances in the speed of
manufacture,
details of which can be made available.
06. SIDESTREAM
The proposed programme was generally accepted, but
the
scope of the work should be redefined to reflect
the
growing importance of this complex area. The work
should
include the effect of pH on sidestream smoke
composition
and properties.
07. HUMAN SMOKING
The proposed programme was basically supported,
but there
should be emohasis on attempts to relate the
chemistry of
nascent smoke to changes in. sensory response with
increasing
puffs.
08. PSYCHOLOGICAL AND SENSORY TESTING
The proposed programme was supported, but there
should be C__
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emphasis on gaining 4 better understanding as to
why some (_0
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others do r\-)
not. This should be investigated in relation to
switching/
quitting.
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November 1999


09. TASTE AND FLAVOUR
Support was given f or the change in emphasis
whereby the
programme is broadened to embrace not simply
flavour, but
other sensory attributes, eg: impact, irritation
and
mouthfeel.
10. LEAF AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
The programme was supported but there should be
close
interaction between GR&DC and Germany in relation
to
enzyaatia aspects of mechanisms involved in
transformation
reactions.
11. TOBACCO PROCESSING
The changed direction of the programme was
approved.
12. TOBACCO EXPANSION
Criticism was made of the slow progress over the
past
year. Despite the intrinsic difficulties of
attempting to
identify a novel are& that is free of existiag
patents,
continued and *increased effort should be made
13. SECONDARY PROCESSING AND
14. VENTILATED CIGARETTE TECHNOLOGY
It was agreed that now that the Secondary
Automation
project is outside the Group R&D Programme, and
the
evaluation of different methods of ventilating
cigarettes
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is nearly complete, these two Work Areas should be
deleted cc
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- and any essential remaining activity transferred
to Ui
Work Area 15 below.
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15. TEST METHOD DEVELOPMENT
It was agreed that the development of on-line and
off-line
test methods for process control should be the
principal
area for secondary process work in a central R&D
laboratory.
The facility for adapting machines for the
manufacture of
highly innovative cigarette designs, e.g. annular,
was also
recognised. Work on, for example, increased
machine
efficiency or material utilisation, however, can
more
effectively be undertaken under full production
conditions
in the factory.
The proposed work programme, together with
residual activity
from Work Areas 13 and 14, was approved.
LCFB/S.IA
10 September 1982
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November 1999
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