Quick Self-test

Defining which agencies contribute to tobacco control sets in motion the recommendations provided in the Article 5.3 Guidelines.

Find out if your agency is one which needs to be particularly vigilant in its compliance with the government’s obligations under Article 5.3 of the WHO FCTC.

Does your agency engage in the following tobacco control measures?

Sets and/or implements health-related and programs
Develops or approves policies, programs and projects that maybe related to teh regulation of tobacco companies through the passage of legislation, or issuance of orders and opinions (e.g., secure marking system; taxation; anti-smuggling measures; ban on advertising, promotions, and sponsorships; tobacco industry interference; packagin; education campaigns, etc
Proposes measures that affect the rates of taxes, fees, and duties and sets or implements policies on tobacco taxes, import quotas, licenses (e.g. collects taxes, duties, or fees on tobacco and related porducts)
Protects the welfare of vulnerable sectors by including a health component in programs to protect vulnerable sectors
Regulates, directly or indirectly, toabcco porducts, tobacco companies and/or its activities (promotions, advertising, packagin, product content)
Collects any type of information from tobacco companies and/or affiliated companies
Sets or implements policies relating to the promotion of integrity, transparency and accountability
Enforces relevant laws or policies related to tobacco-regulation laws such as smoking bans, advertising bans, tobaco smuggling, tax collection, alternative livelihoods for tobacco farmers, as well as laws that promote integrity, accountability and transparency
Prosecutes or adjudicates cases relating to tobacco companies and their liability
Sets or implements national strategies for alleviation of poverty and other targets of the UN Millennium Development Goals

If your agency contributes to tobacco control as indicated above, then, as a minimum, it should promote awareness of Article 5.3 of the WHO FCTC.  Assess your agency’s contribution to promoting awareness of tobacco industry interference in tobacco control policies.  Find out by answering the following questions:

Does your agency conduct any of the following activities?

Continuously and consistently raises awareness of policies relating to WHO FCTC Article 5.3
Informs and educates all branches of government and the public about the addictive and harmful nature of tobacco products, the need to protect public health policies from the commercial and other vested interests of the tobacco industry, and the strategies and tactics used by the tobacco industry
Raises awareness about the tobacco industry’s practice of using individuals, front groups and affiliated organizations to act, openly or covertly, on its behalf or to take action to further its interests
Ensures that all branches of government and the public are informed and made aware of the true purpose and scope of the so-called corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities of the tobacco industry
Collects and exchanges knowledge and experience among pertinent agencies with respect to tobacco industry practices
Monitors compliance with policies to counter tobacco industry interference and support the exchange of information to promote international cooperation in accordance with the WHO FCTC
Engages the support of NGOs and other members of civil society (not affiliated with the tobacco industry) in monitoring tobacco industry activities as well as government’s compliance with policies to counter tobacco industry interference