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Imperial Tobacco destroyed 7 million pages of research on smoking, says report 

Imperial Tobacco Canada destroyed seven million pages of research which included decades worth of studies that indicated the devastating effects of smoking, a new medical journal article alleges.

The University of Waterloo researchers examined 60 scientific studies conducted between 1967 and 1984, and published their findings in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.

They said one of the studies showed tobacco company researchers exposing hamsters to cigarette smoke, and concluding that they developed cancerous lesions as a result.

They also said the studies demonstrated how second-hand smoke was worse than first-hand smoke.

The researchers said the documents were destroyed in Canada in 1992 at the request of Imperial's British head office, but copies remained stored at British American Tobacco headquarters in the United Kingdom. . . .

"Originally we found a document from Imperial Tobacco to British American Tobacco, their parent company, saying, 'We've destroyed the 60 sensitive documents as you requested,"' Hammond said, adding there was a list of internal codes indicating a number for each destroyed document.

Copies of the documents were then located in the British American Tobacco files in England.

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Destroyed documents: uncovering the science that Imperial Tobacco Canada sought to conceal (PDF Full Text) 

The destroyed documents reveal a vast body of scientific evidence on the health effects of smoking. Forty of the 60 documents pertain to carcinogenicity and “biological activity” of cigarettes. . . .

All 60 documents ordered destroyed were reports of scientific work, performed either by British American Tobacco or contractors hired by British American Tobacco. The earliest report dated from 1967 and the most recent was produced in 1984. Of the 60 reports, 11 were reviews of internal research or methods development, 2 were statistical re-analyses of previous studies and the remaining 47 documents contained research findings from original studies conducted by British American Tobacco. . . .

Nicotine and addiction

Six of the destroyed documents depict a sophisticated program of research on nicotine addiction . . . Collectively, these research reports include convincing evidence about the addictive nature of nicotine — a fact that was vehemently challenged at the time in public by British American Tobacco and Imperial Tobacco Canada. . . .

Second-hand smoke

Eleven of the destroyed documents included original research findings on the effects of second-hand smoke.26,27,72–80 Nine of studies were experiments performed on rats to determine the effects of second-hand and mainstream smoke.26,27,73-79 The primary outcome of the tests was the finding that “In all exposed animals there was a consistent smoke-induced change in the larynx …

in 1990, the president of the Canadian Tobacco Manufacturers’ Council submitted a written objection to government proposals for a new health warning on the risks of second-hand smoke, stating that “we do not accept that there is any credible or reliable evidence to establish that environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) constitutes a genuine health hazards to smokers.”82 The destroyed documents indicate that this evidence had already been collected by the industry and was concealed in confidential files. . . .

In 1954, the Canadian Medical Association issued its first public warnings about the risks of smoking, followed in 1963 by the landmark statement in the House of Commons from Canada’s Minister of National Health and Welfare that smoking was harmful to health. Despite these historic proclamations, there remained considerable uncertainty about the extent of the health risks, whether some products were less harmful than others, and what government measures should be taken to reduce the harm from tobacco. During this period, British American Tobacco and Imperial Tobacco Canada collected high-quality scientific evidence that bore directly on these issues and had the potential to hasten effective public health regulation. However, British American Tobacco and Imperial Tobacco concealed this information and argued that there was a lack of evidence to support government measures such as workplace smoking restrictions and mandatory health warnings on packages.81 For example, in 1990, the president of the Canadian Tobacco Manufacturers’ Council submitted a written objection to government proposals for a new health warning on the risks of second-hand smoke, stating that “we do not accept that there is any credible or reliable evidence to establish that environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) constitutes a genuine health hazards to smokers.”82 The destroyed documents indicate that this evidence had already been collected by the industry and was concealed in confidential files.

Efforts to conceal research findings on “low-tar” cigarettes have been particularly damaging to health policy and government regulation. Canadian manufacturers began producing and marketing “lower-tar” cigarettes during the 1960s and 70s as a direct response to growing health concerns among consumers.81 Without the benefit of independent evidence on the potential benefits of “lower-tar” cigarettes, many leading health agencies supported this industry strategy.83 For example, in the 1970s, Health and Welfare officials urged the Canadian manufacturers to reduce tar levels further and to print tar numbers on packages to help guide consumers.81 The destroyed documents indicate that British American Tobacco had collected evidence that cast doubt on the potential health benefits of “low-delivery” products. In vivo studies indicated that human smokers were compensating for “low-tar” cigarettes by smoking them more intensely, while biological testing from Projects Janus and Rio revealed negligible differences in the carcinogenity and mutagenicity of cigarette brands. Without access to this evidence, several decades elapsed before regulators and health agencies reached consensus that “low-tar” products did not reduce risk.81,84 In the meantime, millions of smokers switched to these brands, many under the assumption of reduced harm as an alternative to quitting.84 The legacy of low-tar cigarettes continues today . . .

Had the tobacco industry been forthcoming about the evidence collected about human smoking behaviour and low-tar cigarettes, much of the confusion over these products may have been averted.

Imperial Tobacco’s attempt to destroy the evidence in the 60 documents is consistent with the tobacco industry’s welldocumented efforts to undermine science on the risks of smoking and to engineer doubt in the minds of health professionals and consumers.87 Imperial Tobacco Canada and British American Tobacco publicly denied the importance of the health effects that were clearly shown in the 60 destroyed documents. For example, in 1987 — 9 years after the conclusion of Project Janus, which showed the carcinogenicity of tobacco smoke — the chairman of Imperial Tobacco Canada and the chair of the Canadian Tobacco Manufacturers Council, Jean-Louis Mercier, testified in front of a House of Commons Legislative Committee, stating that “It is not the position of the industry that tobacco causes any disease. … The role, if any, that tobacco or smoking plays in the initiation and the development of these diseases is still very uncertain.”88

Further, in 1996, Martin Broughton, the chief executive of British American Tobacco stated, “We have not concealed, we do not conceal and we will never conceal. … we have no internal research which proves that smoking causes lung cancer or other diseases or, indeed, that smoking is addictive.”89

Finally, the destruction of documents by Imperial Tobacco Canada has direct implications for industry liability and new litigation that is proceeding in Canada. Canadian courts are currently being asked to consider whether the tobacco industry should be liable for the health care costs attributable to smoking.

In the first Canadian trial of its kind, the province of British Columbia has launched health care cost-recovery litigation . . .

Tobacco companies have yet to pay any compensation either to the Canadian government or to their consumers as a result of their actions.

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• Destroyed documents: uncovering the science that Imperial Tobacco Canada sought to conceal  

Background: In 1992, British American Tobacco had its Canadian affiliate, Imperial Tobacco Canada, destroy internal research documents that could expose the company to liability or embarrassment. Sixty of these destroyed documents were subsequently uncovered in British American Tobacco's files. . . .

Results: Imperial Tobacco destroyed documents that included evidence from scientific reviews prepared by British American Tobacco's researchers, as well as 47 origin al research studies, 35 of which examined the biological activity and carcinogenicity of tobacco smoke. The documents also describe British American Tobacco research on cigarette modifications and toxic emissions, including the ways in which consumers adapted their smoking behaviour in response to these modifications. The documents also depict a comprehensive research program on the pharmacology of nicotine and the central role of nicotine in smoking behaviour. British American Tobacco scientists noted that "... the present scale of the tobacco industry is largely dependent on the intensity and nature of the pharmacological action of nicotine," and that "... should nicotine become less attractive to smokers, the future of the tobacco industry would become less secure."

Interpretation: The scientific evidence contained in the documents destroyed by Imperial Tobacco demonstrates that British American Tobacco had collected evidence that cigarette smoke was carcinogenic and addictive. The evidence that Imperial Tobacco sought to destroy had important implications for government regulation of tobacco.

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BAT cigarettes to cost more today 

BRITISH American Tobacco Malaysia has revised its cigarette prices following an announcement made by the government last week to increase 1 sen per stick in excise on cigarettes.

The new cigarette prices, which will be effective today, are as follows:-

1) Dunhill Fine Cut 20s range RM 10.00

2) Dunhill 20s range RM 9.30

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Cigarette prices to soar, fuel to inch up  

Cigarettes will be levied an excise duty of EUR 76 per 1,000 pieces in 2010, finance minister Simeon Djankov said in a phone conversation from Goteborg where he attended the meeting of EU's finance and economy ministers. The current rate is EUR 52 per 1,000 units and the excise hike will bring the prices of most popular brands to BGN 4.50-4.90 a pack. . . .

The excise hike plans drew serious opposition from British American Tobacco (BAT). The company, which produces Kent, Pall Mall and Viceroy, warned the measure would boost illegal trade by 40%, claiming cigarette prices in Bulgaria are the highest as measured against per capita income. (Dnevnik)

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BAT raises its cigarette prices by one sen per stick 

PETALING JAYA: Following an announcement by the Government last week, British American Tobacco (BAT) has revised the prices of its cigarette brands.

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Wealth Building - Smoking success 

Now is a time when quality counts and big is better, two crucial ingredients for investing that I suggest might become even more important in the next few years as governments slowly extract their enormous artificial stimulus from the financial system. As this occurs, companies will increasingly have to rely on their own sustainable business models. One company which we expect to continue to thrive during tough times is British American Tobacco (BAT). So why should BAT prosper and what makes it an attractive investment?

BAT has a proven history:

This is a company which was founded in 1902 and within a decade became one of the largest businesses of its kind globally. BAT has weaved its way through a maze of potentially crippling events over its century of existence. These included government sin taxes (BAT claims that in 2008, governments earned 22 billion pounds or 8 times the Group's PAT from sin taxes), class action suits, draconian advertising and promotion bans that have shut-out marketing the product in many countries, legislation to curb usage and illicit trading, which now accounts for 6% of global output and undermines pricing.

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BAT Can Maintain Performance Despite Duty Hike, Says MIMB 

British American Tobacco (Malaysia) Bhd (BAT) will be able to uphold its performance despite the unexpected increase in excise duty by a sen on each cigarette stick, according to MIMB Investment Bank.

BAT will be supported by its generous dividend payout, the bank said in a research note on Monday.

"We view the increase as a positive surprise as it is the least quantum of increase in comparison to historical trend," MIMB said, adding that the move might slow down the sales volume decline in the industry.

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British American Tobacco Latvia shuts down its production plant in Riga  

British American Tobacco Latvia is shutting down its production plant in Riga (Miera Street 58) at the end of September 2009, and releasing 223 employees. The main reasons – the high excise tax of recent years, which has significantly brought up prices for cigarettes and boosted the black market.

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Tobacco company rejects research findings 

A major tobacco company has rejected claims it is undermining the law by not following regulations on the use of graphic warnings on cigarette packets.

Researchers at Otago University said a new study of bought and discarded cigarette packs showed the regulations were not being met. . . .

"British American Tobacco's graphic health warnings meet all legal requirements," a spokeswoman said.

"The Ministry of Health has not raised any concerns with us in this regard."

Dr Hoek said use of "less offensive" graphics, including images of a diseased mouth or eye, undercut the law and public health policy.

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New Cigarette Health Warning Regulations Not Being Followed  

The regulations on health warning images on cigarette packets are not being appropriately followed by tobacco companies. That's the conclusion of latest research from the University of Otago which involved a study of cigarette pack warnings after these became mandatory in August 2008.

The law requires that tobacco companies distribute evenly the different graphic health warnings over all cigarette packs. This is to ensure smokers are informed of the risks, to stimulate quitting, and to discourage young people from smoking.

However, the research on purchased cigarette packs and over 1200 discarded cigarette packs shows that the regulations are not being appropriately followed. The most offensive health warning graphics appear to be printed on packs less frequently than less disturbing images. .

"The results suggest that tobacco companies are trying to reduce the impact of graphic health warnings by limiting the number of the most disturbing images," says one of the authors and University of Otago Professor of Marketing, Janet Hoek.

"This is of concern as it undercuts the law and public health policy, which aims to reduce the serious health impact of smoking and, in particular, the 5000 deaths a year in New Zealand that are directly attributable to smoking."

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Distribution of new graphic warning labels: Are tobacco companies following regulations? 

The GHWs on the purchased packs and street-collected packs both showed a distribution pattern that was generally consistent with the hypothesis ie, there were disproportionately more packs featuring images judged as "least disturbing" and disproportionately fewer of those with warnings judged "more disturbing". . . .

Conclusion

These results suggest that tobacco companies are not following the regulations, which requires even distribution of the seven different GHWs on cigarette packs; further monitoring is required to estimate the extent of this non-compliance. As an immediate measure, governments should strictly enforce all regulations applying to health warnings, particularly given that these are an effective tobacco control intervention that cost tax payers nothing.

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• Tobacco companies undermining law - researcher  

A major tobacco company has rejected claims it is undermining the law by not following regulations on the use of graphic warnings on cigarette packets.

Researchers at Otago University said a new study of bought and discarded cigarette packs showed the regulations were not being met.

Graphic warnings became mandatory in August 2008 and tobacco companies are required to evenly distribute various images over all cigarette packs.

Otago marketing professor Janet Hoek said the most offensive graphics were printed less frequently than other "less disturbing" images.

British American Tobacco today rejected the findings.

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The leading players in the Latin American tobacco market include Souza Cruz, Philip Morris International and British American Tobacco Plc 

This databook provides key data and information on the tobacco market covering eight countries in Latin America. This report is a comprehensive resource for market, category and segment level data including value, volume, distribution share and company & brand share.

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The leading players in Singapore tobacco market include Philip Morris International, British American Tobacco Plc and Japan Tobacco Inc 

This databook provides key data and information on the tobacco market in Singapore. This report is a comprehensive resource for market, category and segment level data including value, volume, distribution share and company & brand share. This report also provides expenditure and consumption data for the historic and forecast periods.

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