with Release of 2023 Report
President Surangel Whipps Jr. signed a proclamation on May 1, officially designating May as Tobacco Industry Interference Awareness Month and May 31 as World No Tobacco Day (WNTD). The focus of WNTD centers on protecting youth from tobacco industry interference, aligning with the commitment to strengthen the Palauan workforce. The proclamation outlined the industry’s ongoing tactics to win influence and interfere with health policies including; claiming a public health role while killing over 8 million people every year; saying they care about sustainability while their products pollute our planet; funding scientists or 3rd parties to produce biased research; financing front groups to lobby against tobacco control policies; paying for social media influencers and event sponsorships; and hiring legal teams to litigate, challenge and delay tobacco regulations.
The proclamation emphasized the far-reaching negative impacts of tobacco production and usage on critical issues like the environment, mental health, and child labor. To combat these manipulative practices, laws and government regulations are essential to protect young individuals from the harmful marketing tactics of tobacco and related industries on social media and online platforms.
During the signing event, Palau released the Tobacco Industry Interference Index, a report by civil society that spotlights Article 5.3 of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC). Article 5.3 tackles the industry’s influence on public health policies regarding tobacco control. The 2023 report stems from Palau’s second administration of a global survey assessing the industry’s interference in public health protection measures from April 2021 to March 2023.
In the survey, countries are scored and ranked – a higher score indicates greater interference. For instance, in 2023, out of 90 countries, Brunei Darussalam had the best score with only 14 points out of 100, while the Dominican Republic scored 100, making it the country with the highest interference. Palau scored 39 and ranked 9th.
Palau’s 2023 score reflects a slight improvement since the first report in 2021. Regarding the import tax waivers/agreements that were referenced in the 2021 report – and that have since ceased – President Whipps said, “the government shouldn’t be in the business of promoting tobacco nor partner with the industry to sell tobacco”. Palau’s commitment to upholding public health policies, in line with the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control ratified in 2004, is evident.
Despite no recent evidence of tobacco industry interference in Palau, the nation remains susceptible to such influence. Areas for improvement include implementing preventive measures like incorporating suitable provisions in the government code of conduct and ensuring transparency from the tobacco industry on production, marketing, and financial activities. There is also a need to enhance awareness among government departments regarding policies related to WHO FCTC Article 5.3 and its Guidelines.
The report suggests specific actions for the Palau government to demonstrate a strong commitment to Guiding Principle 1 of the WHO FCTC Article 5.3 Guidelines, emphasizing the irreconcilable conflicts between the tobacco industry’s interests and public health policy interests. This presents a pivotal moment for policymakers to enhance tobacco control measures.
The report was produced by the Coalition for a Tobacco Free Palau. Technical assistance was provided by the Global Centre for Good Governance in Tobacco Control (GGTC). Palau’s Tobacco Industry Interference Index is included in the Global Tobacco Index produced by the Stopping Tobacco Organizations and Products (STOP) and supported by the Bloomberg Philanthropies. Both the global report and a summary of Palau’s report can be found at https://globaltobaccoindex.org/report-summary.