THE INTE'UNATIONAT., commrrrn ON SMOKING ISSUFS
ORIGE\I:F OF ICOSI
In June 1977, on Lhe initiative of Imperial
Tobacco I an
Industry meeting took place at Shocker-wick House
outside
Bath. It comprised the Chief Executive Officers,
together
with senior officers, of the following Companies:
-
W B.A.T.
(ii) Philip Morris
(iii). R.J. Reynolds
(iv) In perial Tobacco
W Rothmans international
(vi) Reemtsma
(vii) Gallaher
The meeting was convened to determine whether the
Industry,
in the face of increasing pressures from
anti-smoking bodies
around the world, could reach a common identity of
purpose
and therefrom determine a united approach to
possible future
action. Despite initial scepticism concerning the
likelihood
of agreement, the principals of the Companies
attending re-
cognised the urgent need for concerted Industry
action. A
Position Paper, a draft of which bad been prepared
by BAT and
Philip Morris prior to the meeting, was adopted
with minor
amendments and it was agreed that Companies,
having advised
their own affiliates, should promote its
acceptance through
national associations.
The meeting also agreed 'to set up three Working
Groups to
cover the following areas:-
W Smoking Behaviour (cliaired by BAT)
60 Medical Research -(chaired by Imperial)
(iii.) Social Acceptability of Smoking
(chaired by R. J. Reynolds)
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At this initial meeting it was agreed that in
future the group
of seven Companies7 when meeting in this context,
would be
known as the International Committee on Smoking
Issues.
Agreement was also reached to hold a further
meeting in
Lausanne in November 1977 when the three Working
Groups
would be expected to report their findings.
2. LAUSANNE MEETING : NOVEMBER il/12, 1977
At this November meeting minor revisions were made
to the
Position Paper (see Appendix I) but, more
importantly~ it
was agreed that this paper should be tabled as
each Company's
own position with trade associations. No
indication was to
be given that it was the result of mutual
agreement within the
Industry.
It was further agreed that the Working Group on
Smoking
Behaviour should be disbanded; the other two
Working Groups
were charged with looking further into certain of
the Behavioral
Group's recommendations.
However, the key decision taken in respect of
ICOSI ' s future
was that the main thrust of ICOSI action should be
in the area
of public smoking.
The Social Acceptability Working Group made a
number of
recommendations and were charged with exploring
these
further, both in terms of feasibility and cost. In
addition
to the tasks reassigned to the two Working Groups,
the meeting
formed three Task Forces to determine the
Industry's attitude
towards the following: -
(i) Product Liability
(ii) The forthcoming Swiss Referendum proposing
the banning of tobacco products I advertising
(iii) The Consumer Consultative Council of the
EEC anct its proposals to limit cigarette
.0
promotion and advertising.
A further meeting was set for Hamburg in March
1978.
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- 3 -
3. HAMBURG MEETING : MARCH 9/10, 1978
At this meeting agreement was reached on a number
of
critical issues. The meeting determined:-
W that ICOSI had a significant and therefore
consequently long-term role to play in the
future of the Industry.
(ii) That a permanent Secretariat should be
established as soon as possible so as to
foster and progress the policies and pro-
grammes agreed by ICOSI.
(iii) That ICOSI should be given a legal entity
with its own Charter and Articles of
Association.
(iv) That ICOSI would consider enlarging its
original membership by electing Associate
Members if other free enterprise companies
made application to join (the Articles of
Association would preclude the membership
of Monopolies and those Companies in which
principal companies held more than a 25%
interest) -
W That ICOSI would formalise its activities
through a Board of Governors (up to three
members per company with each company
having the right to one vote) and through
an Executive Committee, to whom decision
making powers would be delegated, provid-
ing unanimous agreement was reached.
(Representation would be one member per
company. Mr. C - H. Stewart Lockhart was
elected Chairman of the Executive Committee).
(vi) That all costs incurred by ICOSI would
initially
be borne on a one-seventh basis by, the original
members, pending a decision regarding the
terms under which Assor4atp membership
would be determined.
(vii) That ICOSI Is main activities should be con-
centrated in the social/political arenas.
(viii) That ICOSI itself should not become
involved
in medical/scientific research. (Whilst
C-D
9 ~1~
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4
the Medical Research group was maintained
in being its main role in future would be to
provide a discussion forum for Industry
scientists) - i
Under Mr. Ste-wart Lockhart's chairmanship the
Executive
Committee was asked to agree by June Ist next the
ICOSI
Charter, its Terms of Association and to make a
recommend-
ation in respect of where the Secretariat should
be located.
The Executive Committee was further charged with
selecting
and appointing the Secretary-General with a view
to his taking
up his appointment by September Ist next.
It was proposed that the Board of Governors would
set and
agree ICOSI policy and would ratify
recommendations made
to it from the Working Groups and Task Forces,
which it will
establish to look into specific areas of concern.
The Secretariat would progress on a day-to-day
basis ICOSV s
activities and would provide an administrative and
back-up
resource. Through the Secretariat ICOSI would
initiate a
programme of activities that would be implemented
through
the national associations.
4. CURRENT ISSUES
Pending the establishment of the ICOSI Secretariat
the follow-
ing activities are currently being progressed
through the
Working Groups and Task Forces: -
W Drafting an Industry Position Paper on
Public Smoking.
(ii) Investigation of the possibility of spon-
soring an International Conference on
Public Smoking.
(iii) Planning for a meeting of the National
Trade Associations - jthis to be held
once ICOSI has a formal and legal entity
and the Secretariat has been appointed.
(iv) Conducting an international standardised
information survey (in 11 countries) into
the social acceptability of smoking.
(v) Determining the methodology for the
C~l
CO
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- 5 -
measurement of levels of Nitrosamines,
carbon monoxide, nicotine and other
constituents in ambient air.
(vi) Determining action in respect of the
Industry's response to the EEC Comm-
ission Is proposed anti-smoking activities.
(vii) Agreeing what action the Industry should
take with regard to the Thir d WHO Confer-
ence on Smoking and Health to be held in
Stockholm in the Spring of 1979.
(viii) Study the feasibility of:
(a) An international advertising
campaign;
(b) Researching smoker/non- smoker
attitudes;
(c) Researching sm oker/non- smoker
attitudes towards "risks and
nuisances".
APPENDIX I Revised ICOSI Position Paper - November
1977
. 0
APPENDIX II List of ICOSI Principals and Members
of the
Executive Committee
APPENDIX III Company Responsibilities
31 st March, 1978
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APPENDIX I
POSITION I'Arrit
:0. Controversy
Med I r.
We ac1:no-.jlcd,,--: that there is controversy
over many aspects of tile
gtmneral problem v( swtokinr, and health. 'There
is diSlgrLC.3C,1t
:nl. experts as to whethnr tile reported
associatioiis between
r1 makt-ir. nnd vz-.riour. disenses arz cnt's.-IL
o-: not. Accordingly, there
nued for further rcsc;:rch into tile Causes of
sttch
11 :;cascs and 1.1. 1:011.1.111s our policy to
support such research. To be
affective it 1: that the tobaccp industry as a
whole is
ri:en Lo be rcr-;Poiis.U)1ct and, within its nren
of competence, apthori-
Xore-)ver. we Believe it is battctr to speak as an
industry
-with one voici.; on such matters and that this
can often best be
accoaplivil3d by nzLional associations of
manufacturers. In this
ccnnectirn i.-e 1,cli,~~ve it inportant that the
industry assure that
' " .% vised of pertinent scientific,
a- pprop.: iR,e rntwbars are kept ad
polirical, -ocial ;-nd other developments.
2. Sc-cl.:,! AwareneLa.,11esponsibility ani :h--
Sc,~ial Acceptability of A in,-L
J3 c:caL-.sP there iz gei-ieral sensitivity in
respect of our products per se,
XIL should at all Limes be particularly vigi:-ant
in ensuring that we
beyond rcj-ronzh concerning the ordirary duties
and obligations
we owe both our con-~utcers and our workers.
WhiluL the cpponents of smokin& use emotional
arguments rather than
scientific fa,rs in their attempts to make smoking
socially unacceptable,
'we nust ensure th;-.7 we never knowingly aaslead
our consumers who inust
Lelic-;,e that an c.rnufacturers at all tiME3 we
are acting responsibly
and linqu conccrr ~or -their interests. Wc.-.
should state quite properly
and that view of tile smoking and health
controversy that -
recogn-~zes that the causation issue remainq
controversial and unresolved.
We taku ti-n view that to date there is no
rersuasive scientific evidence
tc nupport ths conLeation that t,.e non-smoker is
harmed by the tobacco
strokc of ot'ne-s. Ito-jever, it 13 our position
that both smokers and
shcala be considerate of each ocher.
3. Disclosure of Information
We should inflt!ence as far as proper med_~:nl
ar.! official opinion aCainst
incautious imponition of constraints and ?:~y
unn--cessary rentrictions on
smoking. To du this it way be necessary Lo talk to
medical authorities
and Governmen, agencies.
Our legitim;:tn -1.i,_-ctive.% must include
protection of' the interests of
our consumers.
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Page 2.
Where the Industry is sponscrliq~ health research
it should, as appropriate,
keep othcrs, including me-.:ibers of the industry
in'nr!,c:r countrics. inforned.
An indtistry in one country might, when
approprinta, =he krowa the rersarclL
in other countries.
4. The Role of Government in a Frea SOCiCtV
The Indtwtry believes. that smokers are well
a-.o:2i:,-- th-2 cliimad hc!,klth
effects of sroking. Inforr.:::itioa is availablir-
Lo 0-2 from .1
variety of Sources. The traditicnal role of
G,,vernnent -?,. a -t7r-.e
society with referaitce to logal v,-oducts is lo
ii forr- peuple, to
them the facts or to see tbac they are given tha
facts, and un leavc
the exercise of fror choice to the individual.
5. Warninq Clauses
If Couexruaents' propose wording implying or
stating swoking ceuses, c,%rtain
diseases, Cempanles must strenuously resi:;t with
all marans, --t their dis-
posal.
6. Le&Fue Tablcs
So far there is no valid scientific basis for
combinirt mear:-,wemen.'-s of
di ffercnt cl.cmical compounds in the smoke of an
individ!-al Ogarette
brand inin a single index iiumber as to represent
a me.-isure -if impli!d
hazard relmtlve to other brands. Such aggregation
implit:r- ut%justi!3.;1bla
JuCigmeaLs of the strength of association between
chemical en:t,pouads and
disea&es. SLch arb it-r-ary indices of hazard and
their incroduu-rion. should
be res~svte- wherever possible.
7. Maximum "Tar" -and 'Nicot-1-ne limits
'Yhe imposition of utaximum "tar; and nicotine
yiel". :s vc.11 a,, attempts
by Covern-nents to ta-x 'hirli "'tee" products
differentialiy to Lhosc. with-
lower deliveries. should be xesisted.
B. Adverti~;4rD
it is t!.,-. Xndu--tzy vlev t-hat there is no
valid evidcn,:e to- support the
contenLiol. that advert"sing -Inc-zeases total
cons tior. of cigarettt-;.
Adverrif.t.it may ai:fcct -the sales distribution
=-.ong itv'ividual compa-,.1cb
or specific brands- In azzempting to obtain the
best pz~ssible shnres
of Ort m,rket cigaretze manufaCtLZers have used
competitive advertisit-,-.
to irFor-..t the consumer of :product
availability, modifi,~ations and intio-.a.-
tions.
In vla-,Y of rhe existance cl ilic rnedical
controversy, in any advertisiri;,
clnins, express or impli-ed, that one cigarette is
healthier or less
harmful Ohan another should be avoided.
C-7)
(5 :~,
C-
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Page 3.
We should resist. IcS.Lrictious on modia
ac:--crtising; finwaver, in tbe
area of V0111nLary agrecinents WILli Govcrnm~-nts
we sho'lld recognize
that there is a litalt beyotid which the Indiistry
cat)lit]L in-11--e furLlicl:
concessions.
'9. Research
Research plays a k-cy rcle !n au-~ reaction to the
attacks on stroking.
/bL) it is ineunbent on.a ,:5ponsiLle
n-inufarturer to understand the
nl1-e-gat1c---,c; mg-airlet: -:-.,.r!kiig
produ--ts, and to acquire an a continuing.
basis as muc"oh 1--ncw:L,;4*.-,-- as po-s-sible of
his products.
It is our rolic, tc furcher support werk on the
scientific smoking and
health con:zove-.-av. Vie resulrz7 of sticit
s,:ientific investigations must
be made availaite to tits public by appropriave
means.
10. Product Liability
We should keep aware of, e.--.an, inu carefully
au-) take appropriate- zxcti,~n
when 2dvisable with rezpect to the laws and
proposed changes iii ne J.aws
concernin& product liabillity.
t
1.1. Cigarette Manufactu--crs' Associations
We accept the need of national cigaretze
man-.,fz.--,turers' associacionr. and
give them full support.
We believe that the Industry's activities In Lhi
smoking and healtli field
should be carried Dut by or. thi:cu-.h the
Associlat ions, whenever thts
appropriate.
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APPENDIX 11
GOVERNING BODY OF I.C.O.S.I. (ORIGINAL MEMBERSHIP)
Mr. P. Sheehy British-American Tobacco Co.Ltd.
(Chairman) 'P. 0. Box 482,
Westminster House,
7 Millbank,
Mr. C - H. Stewart Lockhart London SWlP VE.
(Deputy Chairman)
Telephone: 01-222 1222
Telex: 27384/5
Mr. R.A. Garrett Imperial Tobacco Limited,
(Chairman Tobacco Division, Lombard Street,
Chairman & Managing Director Bristol BS99 7JR.
Imperial Tobacco Limited)
Telephone: (0272) 666961
Telex: 44791
Mr. A.M. Reid
(Assistant Managing Director)
Mr. A. Orlow Rothmans International Limited,
(Chairman of Tobacco Executive P. 0. Box 7400,
Committee) Drentestraat 21,
Amsterdam,
Holland.
Mr. Th. M. van Gorkom
(Chief Executive of Turmac Telephone: (3120)
429011
Tobacco Company, B.V., Telex: 12295
Director of Board of Rothmans
International)
Mr. A.W.H. Stewart-Moore Gallaher Limited,
(Chairman) 65 Kingsway,
London WC2B 6TG.
Mr. M.E.H. Mulholland (?) Telephone: 01-242 1290
C-77)
(General Manager - Public Telex: 25505
A ffairs)
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- 2 -
(Governinq Body of ICOSI - Contd.)
Mr. Wm. D. Hobbs
(Chairman of the Board &
Chief Executive Officer)
Mr. Tylee Wilson*
(President R. J. Reynolds
Tobacco International)
R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company,
Winston-Salem,
N.C. 27102,
U. S. A.
Telephone: (919) 748 4100
Telex: 806446 Reynolds WSL
Mr. S.B. Witt
(Senior Counsel)
Mr. H. Cullman
(President)
Mr. A. Holtzman
(Associate General Counsel)
Philip Morris International,
100 Park Avenue~
New York, N.Y. 10017,
U. S. A.
Telephone: (212) 679 1800
Telex:
Mr. R.W. Murray
(President)
Philip Morris Europe S.A.
Brillancourt,
1006 Lausanne,
Switzerland.
Telephone: (021) 27 13 11
Telex: 25 025
Dr. H. Wiethf1chter H.F. & Ph.F. Reemtsma,
(President) Parkstrasse 51,
D-2000 Hamburg 52,
Germany.
Herr A. Spengler
(Chairman Cigarette Division) Telephone: (040) 82
20 226
Telex:
31-3.78.
C-D
C-D
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EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF I.C.O.S.I.
Mr. C. H. Stewart Lockhart
(Deputy Chairman)
Mr. Wm. D. Hobbs
(Chairman of the Board and
Chief Executive Officer)
Mr. Th. M. van Gorkom
(Chief Executive of Turmac Tobacco
Company, B.V.,
Director of Board of Rothmans
International)
Mr. R.W. Murray
(President)
(NOMINATED AT HAMBURG MEETING
MARCH 9/10, 1978)
British-American Tobacco Co.Ltd.,
P. 0. Box 482,
Westminster House,
7 Millbank,
London SW1P 3JE.
Telephone: 01-222 1222
Telex: 27384/5
R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company,
Winston-Salem,
N.C. 27102,
U. S. A.
Telephone: (919) 748 4100
Telex: 806446 Reynolds WSL
Rothmans International Ltd. ,
P. 0. Box 7400,
Drentestraat 21,
Amsterdam,
Holl and.
Telephone: (3120) 429011
Telex: 12295
Philip Morris Europe S.A.,
Brillancourt,
1006 Lausanne,
Switzerland.
Telephone: (021) 27 13 11
Telex: 25025
Mr. M.E.H. Mulholland Gallaher Limited,
(General Manager - Public 65 Kingsway,
Affairs) London WC2B 6TG.
Telephone: 01-242 1290 C71
Telex: 25505 -0
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2 - I
(Executive Committee of ICOSI Contd)
Mr. A.M. Reid Imperial Tobacco Limited,
(Assistant Managing Director) Lombard Street,
Bristol BS99 7JR.
Telephone: (0272) 666961
Telex: 44791
Herr A. Spengler H.F. & Ph.F. Reerntsma,
(Chairman Cigarette Division) Parkstrasse 51,
D-2000 Hamburg 52,
Germany.
Telephone: (040) 82 20 226
Telex:
.20-3.78.
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APPENDIX III
To support ICOSI's efforts, it was decided that
the follow-
ing countries should be covered by the Companies
listed
below in informing the respective Trade
Associations about
ICOSI:-
BAT Bangladesh
Denmark
Norway
Indonesia
India
Central America (excl. Guatemala)
New Zealand
Brazil
C hile
RJR Malaysia
United States
Canada
Ecuador
Spain
Hong Kong
PM Switzerland
Finland
Argentina
Venezuela
Guatemala
Philippines
Pakistan
Australia
Sweden
Rothmans Int. Benelux
France
South Africa
Singapore
Imperial UK
Gallaher Eire
Reemtsma Greece
Germany
20-3.78.
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