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Indicators of Influence
These seven key indicators highlight interference from the tobacco industry in Lebanon.
No. 1
Industry participation in policy development
Indicator Score:
9 / 20
No. 2
Tobacco industry-related CSR activities
Indicator Score:
4 / 20
No. 3
Benefits given to the tobacco industry
Indicator Score:
9 / 20
No. 4
Unnecessary interaction with the tobacco industry
Indicator Score:
7 / 20
No. 5
Procedure for transparency measures
Indicator Score:
9 / 20
No. 6
Avoiding conflicts of interest
Indicator Score:
11 / 20
No. 7
Preventive measures
Indicator Score:
23 / 30
Recommendations
Regie is a state-owned monopoly; the Lebanese government needs to treat it like the international tobacco industry. Thus, it should be more attentive and critical toward the involvement of the tobacco industry in policy-making.
- In line with the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), further effort should be made to enhance public health policies.
- Tobacco-related CSR activities must be banned.
- Regie must be treated like any other tobacco company. Laws it proposes must not be accepted, as this is a direct intervention in tobacco control policy-making. A “firewall” between the industry and tobacco control policy must be established.
- There must be a procedure in place to disclose records of government interactions with the tobacco industry. A code of conduct should be adopted by the government to guide officials when dealing with the tobacco industry. The MOPH, through its Tobacco Control Program, could take the lead in writing those procedures.
- The tobacco industry should be required to submit information on tobacco production, manufacture, market share, marketing expenditures, revenues and any other activity, including lobbying, philanthropy, and political contributions.
- The government should work on raising awareness within its departments on policies related to FCTC Article 5.3. Similar activities could be coordinated by the MOPH through its National Tobacco Program, civil society and academia.
Learn more about tobacco industry interference in this country.
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