WHO Reports

Summary results of the global youth tobacco survey in selected countries of the WHO European Region (2020)

December 2020 Author: World Health Organization Download English (PDF, 3.08 MB) The Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) is one of the globally standardized surveys of the Global Tobacco Surveillance System. The GYTS is a school-based survey [...]

Monitoring the Tobacco Industry (2009-2020)

Publications on monitoring the tobacco industry. Read more: World Health Organization [...]

Surveillance and Monitoring

The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) requires its Parties to regularly collect national data on the magnitude, patterns, determinants and consequences of tobacco use and exposure. Through surveillance and monitoring of tobacco, [...]

Tobacco Control Profiles – Countries, Territories and Areas

The country profiles were generated from data collected for the WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, 2019. The country profiles provide information about tobacco prevalence, preventive measures, cessation and tobacco economics. Read more: World Health Organization   [...]

Tobacco Company Strategies to Undermine Tobacco Control Activities at the World Health Organization: Report of the Committee of Expert on Tobacco Industry Documents (2000)

Executive Summary A. Introduction In the summer of 1999, an internal report to the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) suggested that there was evidence in formerly confidential tobacco company documents that tobacco companies [...]

Full Implementation of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control in the Eastern Mediterranean Region is the Responsibility of all (2020)

Although the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) came into force in 2005, the tobacco control challenge continues to escalate. Despite the fact that tobacco use is finally projected to decrease in [...]

Tobacco Industry: Decade of Deception and Duplicity (2019)

Tobacco companies “have marketed and sold their lethal product with zeal, with deception, with a single-minded focus on their financial success, and without regard for the human tragedy or social costs that success exacted” – [...]

Selling Addiction: Tobacco Industry Transition to New Products (2019)

To dominate the market for e-cigarettes and novel tobacco products, the tobacco industry is re-using tactics that successfully targeted youth and misinformed the public about product safety in the past. While the industry aggressively promotes [...]

Indicators of Tobacco Industry Interference (2019)

The tobacco industry repeats the same tactics in multiple jurisdictions to interfere with tobacco control. Indicators of the extent of tobacco industry interference include: proindustry elements in tobacco control policy; government behaviour toward the tobacco [...]

Tobacco Industry Tactics: Smoke-free Environment (2019)

The tobacco industry uses “accommodation policies”, such as designated smoking areas, to promote the “social acceptability” of smoking and encourage smoking or smoking initiation. Transnational tobacco companies mobilize the hospitality industry, downplay the dangers of [...]

Tobacco Industry Tactics: Advertising Promotion and Sponsorship (2019)

The tobacco industry’s key strategy to challenge anti-tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship (TAPS) policy is arguing against comprehensive bans. This aims to ensure sufficient loopholes to allow continued marketing of tobacco products through points of [...]

Tobacco Industry Tactics: Packaging and Labelling (2019)

Tobacco packs are key to marketing and advertising. The tobacco industry challenges large, graphic warnings and pack size/colour restrictions using intellectual property and “slippery slope” arguments. Through litigation, or threat of litigation, the industry seeks [...]

Tobacco Industry Tactics: Tax Policies (2019)

Tobacco industry interference has been particularly strong against efforts to increase tobacco taxes. The industry aims to ensure that tobacco products remain affordable, while protecting their own profits – at the expense of public health. [...]

Tobacco Industry Tactics (2019)

Whether selling its new products or traditional cigarettes, the tobacco industry uses the same tactics to create barriers to lifesaving tobacco control measures. Research – the industry works to discredit proven science by sponsoring and [...]

Guide for Parties to the WHO FCTC on How to Conduct Tobacco Industry Monitoring (2018)

The World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) is the first international treaty negotiated under the auspices of WHO. It was adopted by the World Health Assembly on 21 May 2003 and [...]

Good Country Practices in the Implementation of WHO FCTC Article 5.3 and its Guidelines (2018)

Author: Mary Assunta Introduction In 2008, the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) adopted Guidelines1 to assist Parties in their implementation of Article 5.3. Since then many [...]

Guide for Parties to the WHO FCTC on How to Conduct Industry Monitoring (2018)

The World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) is the first international treaty negotiated under the auspices of WHO. It was adopted by the World Health Assembly on 21 May 2003 and [...]

The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control: An Accelerator for Sustainable Development (2017)

In September 2015, United Nations Member States adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, making a commitment to achieve 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) ranging from eradicating extreme poverty, to combating climate change, to promoting [...]

Impact of Implementation of the WHO FCTC on the Tobacco Industry’s Behavior (2016)

Author: Stella Bialous Abstract The tobacco industry developed a comprehensive public relations and strategic plan in preparation to oppose, delay or weaken the text of the FCTC. A part of this strategy was to, directly [...]

The Tobacco Industry and the Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products (2016)

I. Introduction The illicit tobacco trade is a global problem that threatens the public health gains of tobacco control and the outcomes of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC). In addition to [...]

Article 5.3 and International Tobacco Industry Interference (2015)

Author: Stella Bialous This report was prepared to support the Secretariat of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (the Secretariat) in meeting the mandate provided in decision FCTC/COP6(14) on “Protection of public health policies [...]

Illegal Trade of Tobacco Products: What You Should Know to Stop it (2015)

Overview The illicit trade of tobacco products poses major health, economic and security concerns around the world. It is estimated that one in every 10 cigarettes and tobacco products consumed globally is illicit. It is [...]

Examples of Implementation of Article 5.3 Communicated through the Reports of the Parties (2014)

The examples are taken from official Party implementation reports, show the wide range of measures being introduced by Parties in implementing Article 5.3 of the WHO FCTC. Read more: WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control [...]

Technical Resource for Country Implementation of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Article 5.3 (2012)

All the tobacco industry’s tactics and interference with public policy-making are aimed at increasing tobacco consumption and are detrimental to public health. The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) and its Parties acknowledge [...]

Tobacco Industry Tactics and Plans to Undermine Tobacco Control Efforts (2012)

Tobacco is the only product in the world that kills half of its users. Tobacco use kills nearly 6 million people every year, 600 000 of whom were exposed to second-hand smoke. Every 6 seconds [...]

Technical Resource for Country Implementation of WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Article 5.3 (2012)

The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) and its Parties acknowledge that the tobacco industry represents a serious threat to the achievement of the Convention’s goals and objectives. In fact, Article 5.3 of [...]

Protecting Tobacco Control From Tobacco Industry Interference (2012)

Tobacco industry interests The tobacco industry seeks to undermine tobacco control efforts. As more countries move to fully meet their obligations under the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), the tobacco industry’s attempts to [...]

Tobacco Industry Interference with Tobacco Control (2009)

The tobacco industry has historically employed a multitude of tactics to shape and influence tobacco control policy. The tobacco industry has used its economic power, lobbying and marketing machinery, and manipulation of the media to [...]

Tobacco Industry Interference with Tobacco Control (2008)

The tobacco industry has historically employed a multitude of tactics to shape and influence tobacco control policy. The tobacco industry has used its economic power, lobbying and marketing machinery, and manipulation of the media to [...]

Evolution of the Tobacco Industry Positions on Addiction to Nicotine (2008)

Author: Norbert Hirschhorn Over many decades the global tobacco industry has denied in public, in the courts, and before legislatures that smoking was harmful and nicotine was addictive. Internal industry documents show a radically different [...]

Voice of Truth (2008)

I. Introduction The following regional report, “Voice of Truth”, presents for the first time compelling evidence that the unethical behaviour of the tobacco industry in the Middle East has been extended to all levels: international, [...]

The Tobacco Industry Documents: What They Are, What They Sell Us, and How to Search Them (2004)

A SUMMARY OF THIS MANUAL AND SUGGESTIONS FOR ITS USE This is a manual about the tobacco industry documents released by US-based tobacco companies as a result of lawsuits fi led against them in the [...]

Behind the Scenes: The Inherent Contradiction Behind Big Tobacco’s Corporate Social Responsibility (2004)

Can the tobacco industry be trusted? Can its money play a useful role in funding programmes meant to prevent youth smoking, or advance scientific research? Under the guise of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), the major [...]

Tobacco Industry and Corporate Responsibility… An Inherent Contradiction (2004)

This document has been developed by WHO’s Tobacco Free Initiative, Pursuant to WHA Resolution 54.18, Transparency in Tobacco Control Process, that “calls on WHO to continue to inform member states on activities of the tobacco [...]

Tobacco Industry Strategies to Undermine Tobacco Control Activities at the World Health Organization (2000)

Evidence from tobacco industry documents reveals that tobacco companies have operated for many years with the deliberate purpose of subverting the efforts of the World Health Organization (WHO) to control tobacco use. The attempted subversion [...]