Keeping the Tobacco and Nicotine Industry Out of Public Health Policy
A key priority for ACOSH is exposing and countering tobacco and nicotine industry interference in public health policy. For decades, the industry has used misinformation, political pressure and third-party allies to protect profits at the expense of health.
Tobacco remains the only legal consumer product that kills two in three of its long-term users, causing more than eight million deaths globally each year. Despite this, the industry continues to promote cigarettes, e-cigarettes and novel nicotine products—often positioning itself as part of the solution while sustaining addiction and harm.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has formally recognised both the devastating health impacts of tobacco and the industry’s long history of denial, misinformation and interference in public health decision-making.
Protecting Public Policy: WHO FCTC Article 5.3
The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) is the world’s first public health treaty, and Australia is legally bound to implement its provisions.
Article 5.3 of the FCTC requires governments to protect public health policy from the commercial and other vested interests of the tobacco industry. It recognises that the industry’s goals are fundamentally incompatible with public health and applies not only to tobacco companies, but also to any individuals or organisations acting on their behalf.
How the Tobacco and Nicotine Industry Seeks to Influence Policy
Despite clear global guidance, tobacco industry continues to deploy a range of tactics to interfere with health policy, including:
- Industry-funded research presented as independent or objective evidence.
- Front groups and third parties, such as retailers, lobby groups or so-called consumer organisations.
- Undermining public health organisations and advocates through misinformation or intimidation.
- Political lobbying and direct engagement with decision-makers.
- Participation in regulatory and legislative review processes to weaken or delay reform.
- Media and public relations campaigns designed to reframe industry narratives.
- Litigation and legal threats to challenge or stall public health measures.
These strategies are increasingly being used in relation to vaping and novel nicotine products, particularly where regulation is emerging or being strengthened.
The New Face of an Old Industry
Many vaping and novel nicotine products are owned or distributed by the same multinational companies that profit from cigarettes. Claims of harm reduction are often used to gain policy access and soften regulation, while normalising nicotine use, perpetuating addiction and preserving profits.
Why Industry Influence Matters in Australia
Australia has achieved world-leading success in reducing smoking rates through strong, evidence-based tobacco control policies. This success makes Australia a key target for ongoing industry interference.
The presence of illicit tobacco and vaping markets has created new opportunities for the industry to promote narratives around “unintended consequences”, “consumer choice” and “retailer hardship” to weaken enforcement and delay reform.
Protecting public policy from industry interference is essential to maintaining and strengthening Australia’s public health gains.
ACOSH’s Position
ACOSH is committed to ensuring that tobacco and nicotine policy in Australia is developed in line with the WHO FCTC and free from industry interference.
We leverage the authority of our Council to expose and counter industry interference, especially in government hearings and media commentary.
Specifically, ACOSH:
- Advocates for full implementation of Article 5.3.
- Monitors and calls out tobacco and nicotine industry influence, including our yearly Dirty Ashtray and Exploding Vape Awards.
- Supports governments, media and communities to recognise vested interests.
- Promotes transparent, evidence-based policymaking that prioritises health over profit.
Supporting Action
Policymakers: Ensure all engagement with the tobacco and nicotine industry complies with WHO FCTC Article 5.3.
Media: Scrutinise industry claims and disclose conflicts of interest.
Advocates and communities: Support strong tobacco and vaping regulation grounded in evidence and free from industry influence.
More information
The Global Tobacco Industry
The global tobacco industry is dominated by a small number of corporations. Collectively, five companies control approximately 95% of the world’s cigarette market and produce more than 5,400 billion cigarettes each year.
China National Tobacco Corporation, a state owned monopoly represents the single largest market, with an estimated 350 million smokers accounting for more than 40% of global cigarette consumption. That leaves the ‘big four’ multinational tobacco companies.
- Philip Morris International (PMI)
- British American Tobacco (BAT)
- Japan Tobacco International (JTI)
- Imperial Brands
Big Tobacco in Australia
Australia’s tobacco market is dominated by subsidiaries of three of the ‘Big Four’ international tobacco companies:
- British American Tobacco Australia
- Philip Morris (Australia) Limited
- Imperial Tobacco Australia Limited
These companies continue to have a strong commercial interest in shaping Australia’s tobacco and nicotine regulatory environment.