Tobacco.org

Cigarette firm could face pressure to settle 

An anti-tobacco lobby group says revelations that Imperial Tobacco Canada attempted to destroy its own damning studies will put pressure on the firm to settle lawsuits by several provinces.

"What can they say? That our studies are wrong? They have no real answer," said Michael Perley, executive director of the Ontario Campaign for Action on Tobacco.

On Wednesday, the Canadian Medical Association Journal published online a review that examined 60 cigarette studies thought to have been destroyed by the Montreal-based firm.

The internal studies, done from 1967 to 1984, were destroyed in 1992 on orders from head office at British American Tobacco in the United Kingdom to avoid "exposing the company to liability or embarrassment," the authors of the review say.

But other copies kept in a U.K. depository were later discovered. . . .

The 60 studies were among 70 million pages that cigarette firms were forced to disclose for a landmark anti-tobacco trial in Minnesota in 1998.

Perley could not say if the 60 studies were ever made public and presented to the jury.

"That's part of the reason this is such a dramatic discovery. Researchers could examine them and put them in some kind of context," said Perley. "The problem is making sense of them and creating a pattern of corporate behaviour."

Jump to full article »

Tobacco firm had data linking cigarettes to cancer, newly discovered papers show  

Researchers have uncovered copies of sensitive internal documents destroyed by a Canadian tobacco company that could boost efforts by provincial governments suing the industry over health costs linked to smoking.

The documents destroyed by Imperial Tobacco Canada reveal the firm had scientific data decades ago showing that cigarettes were addictive and caused cancer.

"This evidence suggests that the industry wasn't sharing absolutely critical findings about addiction and the health hazards," said David Hammond, a professor in the University of Waterloo's department of health studies. "There's real potential that if they had done so, we would have had laws that saved lives implemented much sooner."

Prof. Hammond is the lead author of a review of 60 documents that was published yesterday by the Canadian Medical Association Journal. British American Tobacco, the principal shareholder of Imperial Tobacco Canada, ordered Imperial to destroy its copies of the documents in 1992. But other copies had remained in the company's UK headquarters and were included in millions of pages of information released by the tobacco industry as part of court settlements since 1998. That's where Prof. Hammond and his co-authors discovered them.

The records will likely come into play in lawsuits by three Canadian provinces . . .

Most of the records are reports of original scientific studies conducted between 1967 and 1984 by British American Tobacco. Some studies examined the effects of second-hand smoke on rats and found it was dangerous. Other research cast doubt on the comparative benefits of low-tar cigarettes, finding that smokers compensated by inhaling more intensely.

"The studies are notable both for the wide range of research designs used to examine the health effects of smoking and for the consistency of the findings," the CMAJ review says.

Jump to full article »

Tobacco company tried to cover up smoking risks: Report 

Documents destroyed by Imperial Tobacco Canada contained scientific proof that cigarette smoke was potentially deadly, and could be used as evidence as provinces fight legal battles with big tobacco, according to a study published in Canada's top medical journal.

The Canadian Medical Association Journal, in the first published account of a Canadian tobacco company destroying documents, reviewed 60 scientific reports that Imperial Tobacco tried to conceal from the public.

The authors found evidence that could have had important implications, dating back as far as the 1960s, for government regulation of tobacco and the future health of Canadians.

Jump to full article »

Cigarette firm destroyed studies, review finds 

Imperial Tobacco Canada destroyed documents related to the dangers of smoking. (Canadian Press)Imperial Tobacco Canada destroyed up to 60 early studies that linked cigarettes to addiction and carcinogens, according to a review published Wednesday in the online Canadian Medical Association Journal.

The internal studies, done from 1967 to 1984, were destroyed in 1992 on orders from head office at British American Tobacco in the United Kingdom to avoid "exposing the company to liability or embarrassment," the authors of the review say.

The studies were later uncovered in British American Tobacco files, which began to be made available through disclosure during a U.S. trial in 1998, Dr. David Hammond of the University of Waterloo said in an interview.

Hammond said he and his team undertook the review because they knew the studies existed and involved high-quality research into cigarette design and the health effects of smoking.

Jump to full article »

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.

Jump to full article »

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.

Jump to full article »

• 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.

Jump to full article »

• Government of Ontario lawsuit is "hypocrisy", says Imperial Tobacco Canada 

Imperial Tobacco Canada is stunned that a province in which close to 50 per cent of tobacco products purchased are illegal is targeting the legal industry while continuing to turn a blind eye to illegal tobacco sales.

"We find it unbelievable that the Government of Ontario - a senior partner in the tobacco industry for more than 50 years - would use taxpayers' dollars to sue legal tobacco companies rather than invest in eliminating the contraband market which, today, accounts for almost 50 percent of the cigarettes purchased in Ontario," said Donald McCarty, Imperial Tobacco Canada's Vice President of Law.

Recent studies have shown that the huge increase in illegal cigarettes in Ontario seems to have ended the thirty year decline in smoking rates, and signal an increase in the amount of youth smoking illegal cigarettes.

"Why isn't the Ontario government going after the illegal manufacturers with the same zeal that it goes after the legal industry?" added Mr. McCarty.

Jump to full article »

We find it unbelievable that the Government of Ontario - a senior partner in the tobacco industry for more than 50 years - would use taxpayers' dollars to sue legal tobacco companies rather than invest in eliminating the contraband market
Imperial Tobacco Canada, on Ontario's lawsuit.

Imperial Tobacco Canada to governments: Do your job and stop illegal tobacco sales 

In a speech delivered today at the Economic Club of Canada, Benjamin J. Kemball, President and Chief Executive Officer of Imperial Tobacco Canada said, "Despite supposedly world renowned tobacco control policies, over one third of the Canadian tobacco industry has been handed over to an illegal, unregulated, un-enforced and un-taxed free for all and tobacco control is collapsing around us."

Imperial Tobacco Canada believes that something should and can be done now. "Let's get someone in charge - a senior government official would be a good start. Let's get the laws enforced. Let's control the supply of raw material and machinery. Let's get taxes applied, including perhaps a revenue sharing agreement on a First Nations tax, equivalent to the Provincial Tobacco Tax," said Mr. Kemball. "This would facilitate tobacco control across Canada, including the reserves that could benefit from the proceeds of this tax. Let's bring everyone involved to the table, from the health authorities to the First Nation communities."

"The irony is that the tobacco industry is not alone in this call. Community groups, retailers, business groups, health groups are also calling for government action," added Mr. Kemball. "It is not everyday that you get tobacco companies and health groups asking for the same thing. When you do, isn't it time to listen?"

Jump to full article »

Lobbyists want pricier tobacco  

Tobacco companies have been warned they are treading a fine line after reports of price wars.

The Health Ministry began investigating cigarette pricing structures after The Timaru Herald reported last month that tobacco giant British American Tobacco New Zealand had issued a new price list to retailers, recommending a drop in price for some of their brands.

Associate health minister Tariana Turia said she was expecting feedback by the end of this month after launching an inquiry into why British American Tobacco and Imperial had cut prices.

"It is outrageous that on one hand, the government is spending millions of taxpayers' money to stop smoking addiction and on the other hand, these companies are enticing smokers to consume more.

Jump to full article »

Public health initiatives and youth smoking prevention measures are inneffective for over 30 percent of the tobacco industry 

Imperial Tobacco Canada today stated that Canada has lost its leadership in tobacco control thanks to provincial and federal governments ignoring the growing crisis of illegal tobacco sales.

In a speech delivered today at the Canadian Club of Montreal, Benjamin J. Kemball, President and Chief Executive Officer of Imperial Tobacco Canada said "As simplistic as it sounds, part of the solution is to acknowledge that we have a problem. Governments have to work in earnest to find effective solutions that go beyond police operations. A good first step would be to bring everyone involved to the table, from the health communities to the First Nations communities. Someone needs to be put in charge." . . .

Imperial Tobacco Canada believes that effective and enforceable tobacco control regulations are necessary due to the health risks associated with tobacco. The real issue today is the rampant growth of illegal cigarettes that are falling into the hands of young people at pocket money prices; that have no government mandated warnings or other health information; that are manufactured in unlawful factories with no government oversight and no reporting of ingredients or product testing.

Imperial Tobacco Canada believes that something should and can be done now. The road to solving the growth of illegal tobacco sales begins with the Prime Minister mandating a high-level ministerial appointee to take charge of the problem, enforce the current laws, control raw material and machinery. However, none of this will work if the First Nation communities are not invited to be at the table to help shape the solutions.

Jump to full article »

• BLIZZARD: Smoke 'em if you swiped 'em 

Canada's illegal cigarette trade is soaring out of control -- and governments at all levels are reluctant to do anything about it. . . .

With cigarettes selling illegally for as little as $10 a carton, it's mostly kids who are buying.

"They're recruiting youth to transport the cigarettes from the Akwesasne Mohawk territory to smoke shacks in other aboriginal communities," Harvey said.

In one case, a 17 year-old girl was making $6,000 a week doing that and used the money to finance her drug addiction.

"The general public sees this as sticking it to the tax man and that it's their right to buy cigarettes at low prices (because) the government is over-taxing them," he said. "They are really financing organized crime groups, who are using this money to produce drugs such as Ectasy and meth labs across Canada."

I don't smoke. I don't like people to smoke around me. But if people are going to buy a legal product, they should do so legally. This week, the UN said Canada is a "primary source" of Ecstasy and methamphetamines.

As long as governments refuse to deal with the illicit tobacco trade, we'll continue to be the party drug dealer of choice to the world.

Jump to full article »

Imperial Tobacco pushes for action on cigarette smuggling  

The ability of the federal and provincial governments to control tobacco distribution "is collapsing around us," the head of Imperial Tobacco Canada said Thursday.

"Over one-third of the Canadian tobacco industry has been handed over to an illegal, unregulated, unenforced and untaxed free for all," Imperial president and CEO Benjamin J. Kemball said during a speech to the Economic Club of Canada.

Tax-free, smuggled cigarettes are widely available for a fraction of the legal price, and are often smuggled through First Nations reserves, the RCMP have said.

Imperial said illegal tobacco accounts for 30 per cent of the cigarettes sold in Canada, more than 40 per cent of those sold in Quebec and 48 per cent of those sold in Ontario.

Jump to full article »

• Imperial Tobacco Canada to governments: Do your job and stop illegal tobacco sales 

Imperial Tobacco Canada today stated that Canada has lost its leadership in tobacco control because the provincial and federal governments have, for too long, ignored the growing crisis of illegal tobacco sales.

In a speech delivered today at the Economic Club of Canada, Benjamin J. Kemball, President and Chief Executive Officer of Imperial Tobacco Canada said, "Despite supposedly world renowned tobacco control policies, over one third of the Canadian tobacco industry has been handed over to an illegal, unregulated, un-enforced and un-taxed free for all and tobacco control is collapsing around us."

Imperial Tobacco Canada believes that something should and can be done now. "Let's get someone in charge - a senior government official would be a good start. Let's get the laws enforced. Let's control the supply of raw material and machinery. Let's get taxes applied, including perhaps a revenue sharing agreement on a First Nations tax, equivalent to the Provincial Tobacco Tax," said Mr. Kemball. "This would facilitate tobacco control across Canada, including the reserves that could benefit from the proceeds of this tax. Let's bring everyone involved to the table, from the health authorities to the First Nation communities."

Jump to full article »

President of Imperial Tobacco to Address Economic Club of Canada 

Canada was once known around the world as a leader in tobacco control. But with an out-of-control illegal tobacco industry that represents over thirty percent of all tobacco sold in Canada, we have lost our spot at the head of the line. An unregulated, untaxed, un-enforced and unlawful tobacco industry now runs rampant in Quebec and Ontario and threatens to move into other provinces. Imperial Tobacco Canada president and CEO will discuss the economic, social and regulatory implications of Canada's illegal tobacco market, possible solutions and the place of the legal and sustainable tobacco industry.

WHO: Benjamin Kemball President and Chief Executive Officer Imperial Tobacco Canada

WHAT: Address to the Economic Club of Canada "Tobacco in Canada - An Inconvenient Truth"

DATE: Thursday, June 18th 2009

Jump to full article »