Cancer Research UK Dismayed Over Tobacco Meeting At European Parliament

Main Category: Smoking / Quit Smoking
Also Included In: Lung Cancer
Article Date: 16 Jan 2007 - 0:00 PDT

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Cancer Research UK is today expressing dismay at the news that the European Parliament is hosting a British American Tobacco (BAT) lobbying event on corporate social responsibility (CSR).

Jean King, Cancer Research UK's director of tobacco control, says: "There is a mountain of evidence that tobacco companies cannot be trusted to deliver on their promises of social responsibility.

BAT is currently engaging in a global re-branding exercise to help improve its image and appear more 'responsible'. For example, it is promoting its support of youth smoking prevention campaigns and the elimination of child labour. But [review of] BAT's own documents suggest that the company continues to oppose effective controls on tobacco use and to recruit new young smokers across the globe.

"We are deeply dismayed to learn that the European Parliament is hosting BAT's meeting on Corporate Social Responsibility."

The meeting is being held in Brussels on Wednesday, January 10th and is labelled as a 'stakeholder dialogue' part of BAT's '2006 social reporting process'.

Cancer Research UK is gravely concerned by the way tobacco companies seem to be attempting to influence governments.

Politicians may occasionally need to talk to tobacco companies but the charity believes that it is completely inappropriate for them to discuss issues of corporate social responsibility.

A thorough critique of the inappropriateness of BAT's participation in the corporate responsibility movement can also be found here (pdf).

BAT is one of the world's largest transnational tobacco companies, holding a 15.4% brand share of the international cigarette market. The World Health Organisation (WHO) puts the current global annual death toll from tobacco at 4.9 million. In other words, approximately three-quarters of a million deaths per year may be attributable to BAT's products.

About Cancer Research UK

Together with its partners and supporters, Cancer Research UK's vision is to beat cancer.

-- Cancer Research UK carries out world-class research to improve understanding of the disease and find out how to prevent, diagnose and treat different kinds of cancer.

-- Cancer Research UK ensures that its findings are used to improve the lives of all cancer patients.

-- Cancer Research UK helps people to understand cancer, the progress that is being made and the choices each person can make.

-- Cancer Research UK works in partnership with others to achieve the greatest impact in the global fight against cancer.

http://www.cancerresearchuk.org

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