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Take Action to Prevent an Independent Philip Morris International from
Worsening the Global Tobacco Pandemic
<< Press Cuttings Home
The Heart & Stroke Foundation of Barbados has joined
numerous public health organisations worldwide, noting that there is heightened
urgency for governments to enact comprehensive laws to control Philip Morris
International and other tobacco companies.
The Foundation was amongst those organisations waiting in
anticipation of the expected announcement yesterday, of the timing of Philip
Morris International's spin-off. Altria Group Inc. plans to spin off its Philip
Morris International tobacco unit, a move designed to give the overseas maker of
Marlboros and other cigarette brands more freedom to pursue sales growth in
emerging markets. The spin-off would clear the international tobacco business
from the legal and regulatory constraints facing its domestic counterpart,
Philip Morris USA.
According to Adrian Randall, CEO of the Heart & Stroke
Foundation of Barbados "the unleashing of Philip Morris International from
Philip Morris USA, poses the risk that Philip Morris International will become
even more predatory in pushing its toxic products to young people worldwide".
"An independent Philip Morris International, which is likely
to be based in Switzerland, will no longer feel constrained by public opinion in
its home country and most important market, the United States" he added.
Altria/Philip Morris is the world's biggest multinational
tobacco corporation. Eighty percent of its sales are outside of the United
States. The company announced last August, its intention to pursue the spin-off.
Altria's Board of Directors was expected to finalise the decision yesterday and
to announce the timing of the spin-off, assuming required regulatory approvals.
Meanwhile, more than 150 public health organisations in over
70 countries worldwide, have endorsed a call on governments to adopt
comprehensive tobacco control measures to ensure that the spin-off of Philip
Morris International, does not worsen the tobacco epidemic. Among other
measures, they are urging that governments ratify and strongly implement the
Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), ban the tobacco industry from
lobbying or working on legislation to implement the global treaty, and exclude
tobacco products from bilateral and multilateral trade and investment
agreements.
Here in Barbados the Heart & Stroke Foundation, with other
NGOs, is continuing to press for legislation to prohibit smoking in all public
places as mandated by Article 8 of the FCTC, which Barbados ratified back in
2005. This recognises the scientific evidence which unequivocally established
that exposure to tobacco smoke causes death, disease and disability.
"The World Health Organisation projects that 10 million
people will die annually from tobacco-related disease by 2030, 70 percent in
developing countries," says Adrian Randall. "We must work to lessen this toll,
not allow an independent Philip Morris to make it worse". (RS)
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