The GTNF 2022 was a hybrid event that took place virtually, and in Washington for in-person delegates, from 27-29 September 2022.¹

The following speakers, panellists and moderators were listed on the GTNF website:²³

• Joe Ackerman- Swedish Match
• Jonathan H. Adler- Case Western Reserve University
• Benjamin Apelberg- US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
• Gizelle Baker- Philip Morris International (PMI)
• Clive Bates- Counterfactual Consulting
• Erik Bloomquist- global nicotine and tobacco investment consultant
• Alex Clark- Consumer Advocates for Smoke-free Alternatives Association (CASAA)
• Simon Clarke– Forest
• Gal Cohen- Rose Research Center
• Carlista Moore Conde- British American Tobacco (BAT)
• C. Crosthwaite- JUUL Labs
• Brittani Cushman- Turning Point Brands Inc.
• Ming Deng- Yunnan University
• Dave Dobbins
• Stacy Ehrlich- Kleinfeld Kaplan and Becker LLP
• Philip Evans- Boston Consulting Group
• Konstantinos Farsalinos- Onassis Cardiac Surgery Center
• Jonathan Fell- Ash Park Capital
• Karen Gerlach- Womble Bond Dickinson (U.S.) LLP
• Marewa Glover- Center of Research Excellence on Indigenous Sovereignty and Smoking
• Will Godfrey- Filter and The Influence Foundation
• Sharon Goodall- British American Tobacco (BAT)
• Sam Hampsher-Monk- BOTEC Analysis
• Katrin Hanske- Schweitzer-Mauduit International (SWM)
• Angela Harbutt- Institute of Economic Affairs
• Bonnie Herzog- Goldman Sachs
• Matthew Holman – US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
• Jennifer Hunter- Altria
• David Janazzo- Foundation for a Smoke-Free World
• Pamela Kaufman- Morgan Stanley
• Mark Kehaya- AMV Holdings LLC
• Brian A. King- US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
• Pritika Kumar- R Street Institute
• Kgosi Letlape
• David Levy- Georgetown University
• Mark Littlewood- Institute of Economic Affairs
• Meisen Liu- Shenzhen Zinwi Bio-Tech Co. Ltd.
• Fadi Maayta- Alternative Nicotine Delivery Solutions
• Paige Magness- Altria
• Steve Marley- Ashwood Executive Search International
• John Miller- 22nd Century Group
• Stefanie Miller- JUUL Labs
• Deepak Mishra- Philip Morris International (PMI)
• Anna Mitchell- British American Tobacco (BAT)
• Joe Murillo- JUUL Labs
• Kim “Skip” Murray
• Ray Niaura- New York University’s School of Global Public Health
• Michael Ogden- Chemular
• James Murphy- Reynolds American Group (BAT)
• Flora Okereke- British American Tobacco (BAT)
• Beth Oliva- Fox Rothschild LLP
• Cheryl K. Olson
• David O’Reilly– British American Tobacco (BAT)
• Sudhanshu Patwardhan- Centre for Health Research and Education
• Kevin Peng- ALD Group
• Abrie du Plessis
• Riccardo Polosa– University of Catania and Center of Excellence for the Acceleration of Harm Reduction (CoEHAR)
• James Prieger- Pepperdine University
• Kim Reed- ITG Brands
• Brad Rodu– University of Louisville
• Elaine Round- RAI Services Company (BAT)
• Christopher Russell- Russell Burnett Research & Consultancy Ltd.
• Jagannath Sarangapani- International Network of Nicotine Consumer Organisations (INNCO)
• Brad Seipel- M/A/R/C Research
• Pieter Sikkel- Pyxus International Inc
• Donna Smith- Altria Client Services
• George Cassels-Smith- Tobacco Technology Inc
• Lisa Smith- Btomorrow Ventures (BAT)
• Christopher Snowdon- Institute of Economic Affairs
• Jeff Stier- Consumer Choice Center
• David Sweanor- University of Ottawa
• Malin Lindfors Speace- Ethos
• Brent Taylor- Altria
• Joe Thompson- Imperial Brands
• Carrie Wade- Philip Morris International (PMI)
• Eve Wang- Shenzhen SMOORE Technology Co. Ltd.
• Kingsley Wheaton– British American Tobacco (BAT)
• Rupert Wilson- Strategic Business Consulting
• Derek Yach- Foundation for a Smoke-Free World

TobaccoTactics Resources

• Global Tobacco and Nicotine Forum
• Global Tobacco and Nicotine Forum 2021
• Global Tobacco and Nicotine Forum 2020
• Global Tobacco and Nicotine Forum 2019
• Global Tobacco and Nicotine Forum 2018
• Global Tobacco and Nicotine Forum 2017
• Global Tobacco and Nicotine Forum 2016
• Global Tobacco and Nicotine Forum 2015
• Global Tobacco Networking Forum 2014
• Global Tobacco Networking Forum 2013
• Global Tobacco Networking Forum 2012
• Global Tobacco Networking Forum 2010

References

The post Global Tobacco and Nicotine Forum 2022 appeared first on TobaccoTactics.

BOTEC Analysis is a research and consultancy firm based in the US, which works on nicotine and tobacco harm reduction, cannabis, drug policy, transportation and community corrections.⁴  Its website states that “BOTEC combines the capabilities of a consultancy and a think tank, resulting in service that is nimble and responsive but also grounded in evidence and ethical accountability”.⁵

BOTEC Analysis has received funding from Philip Morris International (PMI) and the Foundation for a Smoke Free World (FSFW).

People

Samuel Hampsher-Monk has been the Managing Director of BOTEC Analysis since 2017.⁶⁷ BOTEC Analysis has developed its tobacco harm reduction work since he took on this role.⁸

A list of other current employees can be found on the BOTEC Analysis website.

Relationship with the Tobacco Industry

Funded by the Foundation for a Smoke-Free World

BOTEC Analysis has received funding from the Foundation for a Smoke-Free World (FSFW) since 2019.

In 2019, It received a grant of US$299,767 to “Investigate the drivers of smoking cessation in five countries with alternative nicotine delivery device markets”.⁹

In 2021, it received a further two grants totalling US$401,349 to “Further develop the drivers of smoking cessation in five countries with legalized alternative nicotine delivery systems (ANDS) through a series of additional journal articles, econometric studies, and a full-length book on optimal nicotine regulation” and “Conduct an investigation and analysis and develop recommendations regarding the (i) literature addressing the relationship between COVID-19 and tobacco and nicotine products; (ii) the impact of various tobacco/nicotine related COVID restrictions around the world on smoking and alternative nicotine delivery system (ANDS) use”.¹⁰

In 2022 BOTEC received its largest grants to date, two grants totalling US$937,023 to “Investigate the drivers for smoking cessation and tobacco harm reduction in five countries with alternative nicotine delivery systems markets” and “Develop journal articles, econometric studies, and a full-length book regarding the drivers of smoking cessation in five countries with legalized alternative nicotine delivery systems”.¹¹

PMI IMPACT grant

BOTEC analysis received a grant from PMI through its PMI IMPACT initiative in 2017 to conduct research on the “Impact of e-cigarette regulation on illegal trade in tobacco products in the European Union”.¹²

As part of this project, a paper found that “the more available e-cigarettes become, the less ITTP [illicit trade in tobacco products] market share rises in response to tax-driven price increases for conventional cigarettes”,¹³ an argument beneficial to PMI’s business strategy of pushing heated tobacco products, not as an alternative but a supplement to its cigarette business.

For more information see List of Successful PMI IMPACT Applicants.

Other activities

Hampsher-Monk and Jamer Prieger, Senior Researcher at BOTEC Analysis,⁶ are listed as co-authors of a book due to be published in 2024 titled ‘Clearing the Air on E-Cigarettes and Harm Reduction, Volume I: Tobacco Regulation, Economics, and Public Health’.¹⁴ The other co-author is Sudhanshu Patwardhan, Medical Director of the Centre for Health Research and Education (CHRE).

Hampsher-Monk was listed as a speaker at the 2023 ‘New Approaches’ conference, held at the Harvard Club of New York City, in the same week as the United Nations General Assembly.⁸ For more details see Healthy Initiatives (a FSFW grantee).

Relevant Link

• BOTEC Analysis website

TobaccoTactics Pages

• Foundation for a Smoke-Free World
• PMI IMPACT
• List of Successful PMI IMPACT Applicants

References

The post BOTEC Analysis appeared first on TobaccoTactics.

Background

BAT bought RAI in 2017.¹⁵¹⁶

BAT owned 42.2% of RAI shares from 2004 to 2017.¹⁶ In January 2017, BAT announced that it had agreed to acquire the remaining 57.8% stake.¹⁷ This acquisition was completed by July 2017. ¹⁵¹⁶

When BAT bought RAI it inherited Vuse e-cigarettes.¹⁵

• For details see E-Cigarettes: British American Tobacco

Reynolds also sold its blu e-cigarettes and some of its cigarette brands to Imperial Tobacco (now Imperial Brands).

• For details see E-Cigarettes: Imperial Brands and R. J. Reynolds

TobaccoTactics Resources

• British American Tobacco
• R. J. Reynolds
• IEA: Working with RJ Reynolds, BAT and Philip Morris on Environmental Risk
• Duke University and the Tobacco Industry
• Centre for Indoor Air Research (CIAR)

Relevant Links

• Reynolds American website
• R.J. Reynolds website

References

The post Reynolds American Inc. appeared first on TobaccoTactics.

The Less Harmful Coalition describes itself as an “incorporated, not-for-profit organization”.¹⁸ It was first incorporated as a business in Canada, in September 2021, under a different name.¹⁹²⁰²¹

Its stated mission is “to advance education and awareness of pragmatic approaches to less harmful substance use, mental health, and other harms impacting people and communities in Canada.”²²

Relationship with the tobacco industry

The organisation is supported by Philip Morris International, via its Canadian subsidiary Rothmans, Benson & Hedges.²²

Established as “Outfox Harm Reduction Coalition”

According to Canadian government registers, the organisation was incorporated as “Outfox Harm Reduction Coalition” in September 2021.¹⁹²⁰²¹

The website initially used the same name and stated that it welcomed “prospective members who share our vision for pragmatic approaches to substance use.” ²³ It did not reveal its funder.²³

Belinda Fox, one of the coalition directors, had had previously been contracted by PMI via her company Outfox Communications (see below for details).

The website domain name lessharmful.com was registered in February 2022.²⁴

Renamed “Harm Reduction Coalition”

By March 2022, the name “Outfox” was no longer included in the organisation’s name or website.²⁵ The site now included sections on Tobacco Harm Reduction, Alcohol Harm Reduction, Psychedelics and Cannabis.²⁵

At the time, Dr Jane Foster was listed as Director of the Harm Reduction Coalition and as “a consultant with the scientific engagement team at RBH, Inc.”²⁶²⁷

The organisation held a Harm Reduction Forum in April 2022.²⁸²⁹

Foster was listed as a speaker.²⁸

Foster is no longer listed on the website.²²(See below for details of current Directors)

Renamed “Less Harmful Coalition”

By May 2022, the organisation had again been renamed, although the website URL remained unchanged.²⁰³⁰³¹

The website originally stated that “Our directors have clinical and research expertise in the areas of mental health and addiction”.²³²⁵ This phrase was removed between May and July 2022. ³⁰³²

Revealed tobacco industry funder

By mid-September 2022, the website had been redesigned. It stated clearly that it is supported by Rothmans, Benson and Hedges (RBH), a subsidiary of Philip Morris International (PMI).²²³²³¹

The organisation web page also featured the logos of Canada-Alberta Job Grant, a programme funded by the Government of Alberta, Canada,³³ and Venture for Canada, a charity supporting entrepreneurship, which receives funding from the Canadian government.³⁴

Staff

As of October 2022, the following were listed:

• Belinda Fox, Director.²¹ Her company Outfox Communications conducted work for PMI in 2019/2020 to “help them [RBH] engage health care researchers and practitioners in order to share scientific clinical trial data for reduced risk nicotine products (within the parameters of Canada’s tobacco policy framework).”³⁵³⁶
  Outfox organised an ‘Indigenous Harm Reduction Forum’ held on November 14, 2019 in Alberta, Canada, sponsored by RBH executive Jeff Gaulin gave the opening remarks, and referred to PMI’s promotional campaign ‘Unsmoke Canada’.³⁷ For more on PMI’s ‘smoke-free’ campaigns see Philip Morris International.
• Donald Makowichuk, Director.³⁸
• Sumantra (Monty) Ghosh, Advisor.³⁹
• Chase Miller, Communications.
• Dean Paddock, Consultant.

Activities

The Nicotine Debate

This event, held online on 28 September 2022,⁴⁰ involved a “discussion on the science of reduced-risk nicotine products for adult smokers.”⁴⁰

One speaker listed was Dr Rachel Murkett, Director of Biochromex, a life sciences company which has received funds from the PMI-funded Foundation for a Smoke-Free World (FSFW).⁴⁰ For details see Foundation for a Smoke-Free World’s Tobacco Transformation Index.

Less Harmful Summit

The Less Harmful Coalition hosted a ‘Less Harmful Summit’ in Toronto, Canada, on October 26 2022.⁴¹⁴² Neither the event pages nor the Twitter profile mentioned RBH or PMI.⁴¹⁴³⁴⁴

Earlier in 2022 the organization had approached academics to participate in a panel at the summit. An e-mail from the Speakers and Partners Lead to a UK academic, sent in July 2022, did not mention sponsorship by RBH.⁴⁵ At that time there was no information about this sponsorship on the organisation’s website.³²

Relevant Link

• Less Harmful Coalition website

TobaccoTactics Resources

• Newer Nicotine and Tobacco Products: Philip Morris International
• Harm Reduction
• Third Party Techniques

References

The post Less Harmful Coalition appeared first on TobaccoTactics.

On 28 April 2022 the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced proposed standards for banning menthol as a characterising flavour in cigarettes and cigars with any characterising flavour other than tobacco.⁴⁶⁴⁷ The US had previously banned characterising flavours, except menthol in cigarettes in 2009 (see below).

The rules would come into effect one year after the final publication of the regulations (not yet provided).⁴⁸⁴⁹ This time period is similar to the EU ban which the tobacco industry exploited whereas the Canadian ban was implemented within six months.⁵⁰

The proposed standards would also ban characterising flavours in components or parts of cigarettes and cigars (filters, filter wrapper, paper, filter tips, drops, capsules, flavour cards) whether or not they were sold separately.⁴⁸ This was not the case with the EU ban, an omission which provided a loophole for the industry to exploit.

The FDA stated that the ban would apply to products being manufactured, distributed or sold in the US.⁴⁷⁴⁸ It emphasised that enforcement would be at the company level (manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers, importers and retailers) rather than at individual (smoker) level.⁴⁷⁴⁸ It would not restrict flavoured products intended for export.  The FDA suggested that replacing existing local bans with a nationwide ban would reduce opportunities for illicit trade.⁴⁸

Menthol cigarettes and tobacco products are yet to be banned US-wide. This is despite the Tobacco Control Act of 2009 making the issue of menthol in cigarettes an FDA priority, an FDA report detailing menthol’s harms in 2011, and efforts by health organisations and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to push the FDA to ban menthol cigarettes.⁵¹

Flavour and Menthol Bans in Place in the US

Cigarette flavours, excluding menthol, were banned US-wide in 2009 as part of the Tobacco Control Act.  At this time menthol represented nearly one third (27%) of the cigarette market.⁵²⁵³ By 2018, 36% of cigarettes sold in the US were menthol, and less than 1% of the US population lived in areas where menthol cigarettes were banned.⁵³⁵⁴

In 2020, Massachusetts was the first state to pass state-wide legislation banning all flavoured tobacco products, including menthol. Later the same year California passed a similar law, although some cigars and pipe tobacco were exempt.⁵⁵ There are multiple other local bans and restrictions in place across the country – for more information see the factsheet produced by the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids.⁵⁶

Industry Opposition to Menthol Bans in the US

The US continues to be an important market for tobacco companies’ menthol brands. In its 2018 Annual Report, BAT said that after it acquired US tobacco company RJ Reynolds in 2017:

“The sales of Newport, together with the other menthol brands of the Group’s operating subsidiaries, represent a significant portion of the Group’s total net sales”.⁵⁷

In the same report BAT repeatedly noted that any future flavour bans would risk having a negative impact on its business.⁵⁷ A proposed federal (nationwide) ban in 2016 led to a drop in the value of tobacco companies’ shares, although the ban was not implemented.⁵⁸⁵⁹

The tobacco industry claimed that stopping convenience stores selling menthol cigarettes as planned in Minnesota (by restricting their sale to adult only tobacco and stores selling alcohol) would lead to catastrophic financial and job losses.  However independent research suggested losses would be six times smaller: tobacco does not drive use of convenience stores as much as the tobacco industry claims.⁶⁰

Arguments against a USA-wide ban from the tobacco industry, included that there was not enough scientific evidence to support the ban, because, they claimed, menthol does not increase the disease risk, or markers for dependence or addiction.⁴⁸⁶¹ Some argued there should be an exemption for premium cigars.⁴⁹

In April 2021, the FDA announced that it was “working towards” a full menthol and flavour ban in cigarettes and cigars, stating that:

“This decision is based on clear science and evidence establishing the addictiveness and harm of these products and builds on important, previous actions that banned other flavored cigarettes in 2009.”⁶²

Industry Lobbying and Interference in US Menthol Bans

Tobacco companies have extensively lobbied against legislation, both nationally and in individual states, in order to oppose or delay the implementation of regulations on menthol and flavour.

The Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids (CTFK) has described tobacco companies repeated attempts to block or delay legislation by filing lawsuits and funding related campaigns, including in San Francisco in 2017, and California in 2019 and 2020.⁶³⁶⁴ This is a well-documented industry strategy.

Tobacco companies have targeted politicians and law makers with direct financial contributions, and funded third party organisations to lobby on their behalf.^6364656667 An investigation by the Bureau of Investigative Journalism (BIJ) revealed how consultants working for Reynolds American did not always declare their links to industry.⁶⁴

In September 2020, the Los Angeles Times reported that the California Coalition for Fairness had submitted a request for a referendum to overturn the Californian ban.⁶⁸ The organisation did not provide details of its members, but the newspaper noted that ban was proposed by Attorney Aaron Agenbroad who has previously worked for RJ Reynolds (now BAT) and Jaime Rojas, a spokesman for a tobacco industry campaign to overturn a ban on flavoured tobacco in San Francisco.⁶⁸ RJ Reynolds also ran a television ad campaign against the ban.⁶⁸

Tobacco companies have also given financial support to organisations and individuals working within the Black community.⁶³ Some have gone onto to make claims of unexpected impacts of menthol bans on Black people, including criminalisation and harm to community relations.⁶³ The US Public Health Law Centre has rebutted some of this industry misinformation around this issue.⁶⁹

In June 2020, two US NGOs (African American Tobacco Control Leadership Council and Action on Smoking and Health) filed a lawsuit against the FDA to try to force it to introduce a ban in order to reduce health inequalities, noting that 85% of African American smokers smoke menthol cigarettes.⁷⁰⁷¹ See also the STOP statement on this legal action and the Truth Initiative factsheet

The same figure has been used by the tobacco industry to lobby against the ban, arguing that it is discriminatory: “giving special treatment to the rich, and singling out communities of color”.⁷² In September 2020, the American Medical Association (AMA) joined the lawsuit as co-plaintiffs.⁷³ The president of the AMA said that:

“For generations, tobacco companies have promoted menthol cigarettes to the African American community, preying especially on African American youth… This action is long, long overdue”.⁷³⁷⁴

Marketing of Menthol to the Black Community

There is a long history of targeted marketing of menthol by the tobacco industry. In the 1960s starter packs and discounts were distributed in newspapers and magazines popular in Black communities. Black models and famous Black sports people and entertainers have appeared on adverts.  Images relating to Black Power and Black History month have been used in marketing, and tobacco companies have made donations to music festivals. They have also given financial donations to  political and community organisations and leaders.⁷⁵⁷⁶

Marketing of flavoured tobacco products was still disproportionately found in Black neighbourhoods in Washington in 2018/19, while other tobacco advertising was not.⁷⁷⁷⁸

The BIJ investigation report stated that RAI consultants had “exploited concerns about police brutality against Black citizens”.⁶⁴⁷⁹

• See also the Long Read on Racism and the Tobacco Industry

Relevant Links

Food and Drug Administration, Tobacco Product Standard for Menthol in Cigarettes (United States, 5 April 2022)

Public Health Law Center: Menthol and Other Flavoured Products, PHLC website (United States), including FDA timeline of key events

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Office on Smoking and Health Summary of Scientific Evidence: Flavored Tobacco Products, Including Menthol February (United States, 2021)

Truth Initiative, Menthol: Facts, stats and regulations (United States, April 2022)

TobaccoTactics Resources

• Flavoured and Menthol Tobacco 
• Menthol Cigarettes: Industry Interference in the EU and UK

References

The post Flavoured and Menthol Tobacco in the US appeared first on TobaccoTactics.