The worlds response

Current Policy Issues

The world's response

This section contains information on the international fight against tobacco smuggling.

This section outlines the international response to tobacco smuggling, since 1998. The protocol being developed under Article 15 of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control is now the main tool of action.

FCA paper: Developing a protocol to combat the illegal tobacco trade
This paper sets out why the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Conference of the Parties (COP-1) should prioritise starting a process to develop a protocol to combat the illegal tobacco trade.

Author: Framework Convention Alliance Published By: Framework Convention Alliance Published : 08/01/2006

Turning off the Tap
An update on cigarette smuggling in the UK and Sweden, with recommendations.

Author: Luk Joossens, Martin Raw Published By: Cancer Research UK & National Institute of Public Health Sweden Published : 01/12/2003

WHO report: Illicit tobacco trade in the Middle East
Concentrating on Iran and Iraq, this excellent report details why the illicit trade in tobacco is so lucrative and how 1 in 3 cigarettes for export are still being lost in transit.

Author: World Health Organization Published By: World Health Organization Published : 31/08/2003

World Health Organisation - Framework Convention on tobacco control
The Framework Convention on Tobacco Control was adopted at the WHO's annual assembly in May 2003 and has been signed by the British government.

Author: World Health Organization Published By: WHO Published : 22/05/2003

Position paper on tobacco smuggling and the FCTC
FCA paper on the measures needed to tackle smuggling in the FCTC - prepared in advance of the US ICITT meeting (see below) arguing for measures that would remove the tobacco companies' incentives to smuggle and secure the international wholesale distribution system. The paper was produced by the Framework Convention Alliance of 170 nongovernmental organisations.

Author: Framework Convention Alliance Published By: Framework Convention Alliance Published : 31/07/2002

International Conference on Illicit Tobacco Trade White Paper.
A Whitepaper highlighting the goals of the conference to advance the framework convention on tobacco control on the prevention of illicit tobacco control.

Author: United Nations Published By: United Nations Published : 29/07/2002

Provisions in the FCTC to tackle smuggling
One of the key measures in the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control is the development of a regime to tackle tobacco smuggling – important for both fiscal and human health. During INB-3 proposals for a smuggling protocol made by the U.S delegation and a protocol on ‘Mutual administrative assistance’ developed by the World Customs Organisation became available.

Author: Clive Bates Published By: ASH Published : 24/11/2001

Illegal pathways to illegal profits
The big cigarette companies and international smuggling. Examines four major case studies (Colombia, Cameroon, Spain & Bangladesh) of cigarette smuggling and tobacco industry involvement. The information is mostly drawn from British American Tobacco's internal documents and illustrated with maps, quotes and explanations of terminology.

Author: Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids Published By: Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids Published : 04/05/2001

Smuggling: what the FCTC could do
Outlines why tobacco smuggling is a health problem and what the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control's response should be.

Author: Clive Bates Published By: ASH Published : 17/10/2000

Factsheet on international tobacco smuggling
Factsheet produced for the 2000 World Conference on Tobacco or Health. Give a good overview of the international smuggling problem.

Author: Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids Published By: Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids Published : 31/07/2000

British American Tobacco and Africa: Smuggling investigation
Quotes from tobacco industry documents suggesting British American Tobacco (BAT) have been involved in smuggled tobacco products across Africa. Contains copies of BAT documents.

Author: ASH Published By: ASH Published : 26/07/2000

Smuggling: BAT Views
Follow-up submission made by British American Tobacco on the topic of alleged their involvement in tobacco smuggling

Author: British American Tobacco Published By: British American Tobacco Published : 29/02/2000

Hawkeye System for tracing contraband tobacco
Description of scanning and monitoring technology developed by scientists in Lausanne Switzerland and Springfield Virginia USA that would allow legal traders that sell to the black market to be identified. The cost of implementing the system was 0.85 pence per pack in 1999.

Author: John Thorpe Published By: John Thorpe Published : 27/02/2000

Smuggling: Our View
British American Tobacco's position paper on smuggling

Author: British American Tobacco Published By: British American Tobacco Published : 09/01/2000

Smuggling and Cross border shopping of tobacco products in the EU
Smuggling is a serious problem. The report concludes that the appropriate response to smuggling is to crack down on criminal activity.

Author: Health Education Authority Published By: Health Education Authority Published : 30/11/1999

The 2009 Report on EU Customs Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights [pdf]
This report includes information on seizures of counterfeit tobacco products.

Canadian Non-Smokers' Rights Association
Smuggling in Canada - outlines the smuggling situation in Canada. A timeline of events

Customs and Tobacco Report 2009 [pdf]
The World Customs Organization annual report on tobacco provides an overview of the illicit trade in tobacco and cigarette seizures around the world.

Rothmans, Benson and Hedges and the smuggling of cigarettes into Canada.
Report on British American Tobacco, Rothmans, Benson & Hedges and the Smuggling of Cigarettes into Canada Author: Francis Thompson, Publisher: Canadian Non smokers Rights Association, Feb 2003

International Conference on Illicit Tobacco Trade
Held from July 30 to August 1, 2002, at the United Nations in New York. Illicit tobacco trade was the focus of the conference.

Framework Convention on Tobacco Control
The Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) is the world’s first health treaty, developed by the World Health Organisation and adopted in May 2003. If current trends continue by 2030 tobacco will kill more than 8 million people each year, with 80% of those coming from the developing world. The FCTC is designed to try to reduce this terrible toll.

Tobacco Companies Linked to Criminal Organizations in Lucrative Cigarette Smuggling
Report by The Centre for Public Integrity, International Consortium of Investigative Journalists on corporate tobaccos implication in international smuggling and its links to organized crime

Cigarette smuggling in Europe: who really benefits
Article by Luk Joossens and Martin Raw in Tobacco Control, 1998 7:66-71. Outlines the threat of tobacco smuggling in Europe.

How cigarette smuggling can be reduced
Luk Joossens and Martin Raw argue that the tobacco industry are the 'true beneficiaries' of tobacco smuggling and suggest how to tackle the problem. Published in BMJ 14 October 2000.