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Indicators of Influence
These seven key indicators highlight interference from the tobacco industry in Spain
No. 1
Industry participation in policy development
Indicator Score:
6 / 20
No. 2
Tobacco industry-related CSR activities
Indicator Score:
4 / 20
No. 3
Benefits given to the tobacco industry
Indicator Score:
5 / 20
No. 4
Unnecessary interaction with the tobacco industry
Indicator Score:
5 / 20
No. 5
Procedure for transparency measures
Indicator Score:
4 / 20
No. 6
Avoiding conflicts of interest
Indicator Score:
12 / 20
No. 7
Preventive measures
Indicator Score:
18 / 30
Recommendations
These are ways Spain can deter interference from the tobacco industry:
- Given the vested interest of the state-owned tobacco-growing company CETARSA and the porousness of the regulatory body of the TMC to the influence of the tobacco industry, a firewall should be built around those bodies to safeguard the political and policy independence of the government on matters related to tobacco.
- It is urgent to establish criteria to limit interactions with the tobacco industry to the indispensable level and ensure the total transparency of the interactions that occur. At a minimum, the agenda, minutes and agreements reached during said meetings should be made public.
- The regulation needs to be improved to define better and penalize conflicts of interest for government officials and employees, specifically with the tobacco industry. To this effect, it is indispensable to raise awareness about tobacco industry interference in the national and regional governments, particularly in departments usually involved in CSR activities of the industry, such as finance, development, health, environment and women’s issues.
Learn more about tobacco industry interference in this country.
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