ITEM 2.8
PROPOSAL FOR STEPS TO STRENGTHEN THE INDUSTRY'S
PUBLIC POSITION
The five proposals set forth below - and, in fact,
all of
INFOTAB's work - become relevant only if two steps
are taken
within member companies.
The first step is to change attitudes of
executives in
member companies who participate in industry
decision-
making at the national level. They must recognize
that
there are times when possible competitive,
short-term
gains must be sacrificed to united industry action
on
smoking issues, in order to achieve longer-term,
bottcm-
line gains for the industry as a whole, including
their
companies.
The second step is the commitment of INFOTAB
members' line
executives at the national level to develop, fund
and
execute on-going, long-term, strategic programs
throuch
NMAs.
The industry's credibility is built almost
entirely at the
national level. Its foundation is unity, resources
and
commitment to action. The following proposals are
presented
with the assumption that member companies can and
will take the
first two steps mentioned above.
1. White Paper on Primary Health Issues
It is proposed that INFOTAB produce a reasonable,
believable white paper on the primary health
issues. This
paper would address not only the question of
causation,
but the more prevalent claim that: in the long
run, the
net effect of smoking on the majority of smokers'
health
is sufficiently adverse to justify elimination of
smoking.
This white paper should be written so that it
could be
presented to medical professionals and government
health
authorities and bureaucrats.
Once the paper is agreed, briefer papers in
laymen's
language should be written and agreed for use with
other
key people. Then, even shorter, question/answer
pamphlets
should be written for wider use.
The Secretary General would appreciate the advice
of
member companies as to the specialist who should
be asked
to draft the white paper.
CD
110
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BATCo document for Province of British Columbia 27
October 1999


2
2. Marketing Code-with Self-Regulaticn Mechanism
To be credible, the industry cannot just oppose
restrictions,
it must propose socially responsible alternatives
or, as
history has shown, it will be forced to accept
unreasonable
measures.
it is therefore proposed that INFOTAB members
agree on a
self-regulation system to include a code of
marketing
conduct that would be implemented even in the
absence of
imminent pressure.
The underlying principles of the code would be
based on
the industry's position that cigarette advertising
is not
designed to influence non-smokers to smoke,
including
young people under adult age.
The code would be written so that it could be
imDlemented
in most countries where no code exists or where
there are
codes or legislation that are milder.
in addition to the code, there would be a
non-covernmental
mechanism to assure compliance.
If the Board agrees with the principle of this
kind of
self'-regulation, the Secretariat could prepare a
draft and
circulate it to member comranies for comments and
aim for
final approval as quickly as possible. It would
then be
sent by member companies to affiliates for local
imolementation.
3.- Caution Notice
This proposal is based on the following
assumptions:
- that there is a substantial body of evidence
linking
cigarette smoking to illness;
- that there-is no proof that smoking is safe;
- that a responsible manufacturer will alert
consumers
of his product to possible risk from the use of
that
product;
- that it is strategically advantageous to take
certain
measures voluntarily, without pressure to do so;
- that caution notices on cigarette packs that
have
acceptable wording do not have a negative impact.
If members of the Board agree with these
assumptions, it
is suggested that they agree to place a caution
notice on
packs with suitable wording in most, if not all,
countries
where there is no such warning and where they can
control
such an action. C=)
A more detailed proposal as to how each national
industry co
group could undertake this action will be
presented at the
Board meeting.
CZ)
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BATCO document for Province of BritiSh Columbia 27
October 1999


4. Scientific Research on "Passive" Smoking
The industry is already on the defensive in the
scientific
debate on the "passive" smoking issue.
It is therefore recommended that INFOTAB members
agree to
fund scientific research on "passive" smoking
through
~appropriate national industry groups. .
1
It is also recommended that Board members agree to
organized, but informal exchanges of information
among
those national industry groups that have plans to
fund
scientific research on "passive" smoking.
Representatives from countries concerned would
meet to
discuss plans. The aim would be to develop a body
of
research funded by the industry that would be more
valuable than the sum of individual, uncoordinated
projects.'
Such exchanges should take place only if it is
agreed that
there would be no attempts outside of the meetinqs
to
influence national programs using information
gained in
the exchanges.
5. INFOTAB "Position Paper"
It is proposed that the INFOTAB "Position Paper"
dated
November 1977 be revised. It could be improved in
terms
of clarity, tone and range of issues covered. The
revised,
paper would be more useful for guiding the
Secretariat and
committees and for recruiting new members.
The Secretary General could prepare a revised
version for
circulation to member com-oanies and fifial
agreement by
Board members.
As a preliminary step, all members would be asked
to
suggest modifications.
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BATCo document for Province of British Columbia 27
October 1999