Hear what our collaborators are saying

“The Global Tobacco Industry Interference Index has been a critical tool in our advocacy efforts in South Africa, particularly as we navigate the legislative process with the Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill currently before parliament. Since the release of the latest country Index, we’ve consistently used it in engagements with policymakers to expose the tobacco industry’s interference. Importantly, we have used the regional and global reports to show that industry tactics in South Africa are not isolated—that they’re part of a global strategy."

“The Tobacco Industry Interference Index is an essential tool for evaluating the Indonesian government’s commitment to public health. It provides the only available measure to monitor the tobacco industry's attempts to influence health policies. Additionally, the Index uncovers government collaborators who have acted as barriers to public health progress. By shedding light on these tactics, the Index empowers the public to support stronger tobacco control measures and protect future generations in Indonesia.”

“Tobacco distributors in Oman are large business conglomerates with vast portfolios beyond tobacco. The Tobacco Industry Interference Index has been very useful in understanding the breadth of their activities and potential areas of influence in policy development in a systematic way. By doing this, we know how to shape advocacy messages on specific policy gaps so that the country can better implement the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and protect the health and well-being of the people in Oman.”

“The Pakistan Tobacco Industry Interference Index provides a comprehensive, evidence-based framework for assessing and communicating issues related to tobacco industry interference. Promoting transparency and driving accountability ensures that stakeholders can make informed decisions and take appropriate action to counter industry influence.”

“The Index has been very useful in the exposure of tobacco industry tactics and influential in echoing the need for the Zambian Government to enact the Tobacco Control Bill. It has also helped in making key stakeholders realize the impact of tobacco consumption on public health, compelling senior government officials and parliamentarians to join and support tobacco control advocacy. Some have pledged to support the Tobacco Control Bill once it is tabled in Parliament.”

“Impact of the Index is clearly visible in Bangladesh. In September 2024, the National Tobacco Control Cell of the Health Service Division under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare took the initiative to develop a Draft Guideline for Implementing WHO FCTC Article 5.3 within the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and its Affiliated Offices/Institutions. The adoption of the Article 5.3 code of conduct for all government officials has been one of the pressing recommendations of the Tobacco Industry Interference Index country reports since 2018. If the guideline is finalized soon, it will be a significant leap towards thwarting interference and denormalization of the tobacco industry.”

"The Index has been instrumental in exposing how the tobacco industry undermines health regulations in Nepal. Through the Index we have raised public awareness and strengthened our advocacy for stricter tobacco control measures."

"The Index has been particularly helpful to media practitioners in Nigeria focused on health issues, providing them with insights into the various tactics used by tobacco companies to undermine public health. It has encouraged these journalists to center their reporting on exposing the industry's harmful behavior and demanding accountability from state authorities."

"The Sri Lanka Index serves as a vital resource that guides government officials, media, and policymakers to expose tobacco industry interference, advocate for stronger enforcement, and prevent future interference. The comparison of the Sri Lanka Index in previous years provides clear insights into tobacco industry interference, holding relevant officials accountable and compelling them to take action to minimize tobacco industry interference.”

“The Index has been a driving force in mobilizing media advocacy, shaping political actions, and altering public perception. The sustained efforts in these domains are imperative for the advancement of tobacco control measures in Switzerland, particularly in ensuring the adequate implementation of the ‘Youth Without Tobacco’ initiative and the ratification of the WHO FCTC.”

“The 2023 Index was key and timely for Uruguay because it had a greater impact than previous ones. As the current government had passed some decrees that set back tobacco control policies, the report generated media articles and social media comments from significant communicators and politicians that put pressure on the current authorities.”

"The 2023 Index has been a key document in the approval of the Law on the Control of the Consumption of Tobacco Products, Nicotine, or Their Substitutes for the Protection of Life and Health. For the first time in Peru, this law includes a chapter on regulating the interference of the tobacco and electronic cigarette industries, marking a significant achievement for our country, especially considering the strong influence these industries have in Congress."

"The Index helped Ukraine demonstrate progress in reducing the level of tobacco industry interference. Thanks to this progress, in December 2021, the comprehensive anti-tobacco law 1978-IX was passed, which strengthened the implementation of the WHO FCTC. In 2022 and 2023, the Index made it possible to repel attacks by the tobacco industry on the adopted antitobacco legislation.”

“The Index as a key tool of civil society to provide input to the Committee and a way to demonstrate that we are aware of the actions of legislators and the possible ways of interference from the tobacco industry in the development of tobacco control laws.”

"The 2023 UK Index recommended improvements to the UK’s policy consultation practices.18 The Scotland and Wales devolved governments have now for the first time stated unequivocally in their consultation guidelines that industry-linked submissions are separated out and not used in subsequent policy development, in line with UK Index."

“The official launch of the Palau TII index was a significant step forward in raising awareness about tobacco industry interference. The President of Palau declared May 2024 as Tobacco Industry Interference Awareness Month and May 31st as World No Tobacco Day in Palau, a powerful move to highlight the issue and promote public health. The release of the Index has already led to discussions with representatives from the Offices of the President, the Attorney General, and the Ethics Commission as well as from the Ministry of Human Resources, Culture, Tourism, and Development and the Ministry of Health, about advancing Palau’s preparedness to counteract tobacco industry interference. These efforts can play a pivotal role in protecting public health policies from being undermined by industry interests.”

“The Global Tobacco Industry Interference Index has significantly bolstered our advocacy efforts in the U.S. by improving transparency and accountability. Since August, our report page has drawn 1,715 views, with over 550 active users engaging with the content. We've trained 265 advocates, including 77 state and federal government representatives, on the 2023 Index. This education has empowered stakeholders to better understand and counteract tobacco industry interference in public health policy in the U.S.”

“The findings of the Czech Republic’s Index presented to the representatives of the relevant ministries have been well received. They are in favor of disclosing their interactions with the tobacco industry on their websites. This is a big step forward for us.”

“By making these practices visible, the Index alerts the public, health organizations, and the government to the dangers of such interferences and helps us work more effectively in monitoring the industry. This contributes to building a political environment more resistant to corporate pressure.”

“The main obstacle to advancing tobacco control is the persistent interference of the tobacco industry and those who defend its interests, such as interference from non-health sectors and the use of litigation; as well as raising concerns about the increasing availability of emerging products in the markets, such as electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products.”

Latin America Daniel Dorado Corporate Accountability

"With its important findings, the 2023 Africa Tobacco Industry Interference Index is a great advocacy tool that has enlightened African policymakers on the urgent need to put more efforts into protecting their tobacco control legislation from the tobacco industry interference. We witnessed a great interest when it was presented at a special session during the pre-COP10 meeting on 22 October in Entebbe to the WHO Afro Parties. We are pleased that it also caught the attention of policymakers from countries not in the survey yet."

Africa Leonce Sessou Africa Tobacco Control Alliance

"The Index has been an eye-opener, reminding us to stay vigilant about the tobacco industry that is constantly lurking around us. The Index also summarizes how deeply the tobacco industry has infiltrated many governance centers, undermining efforts to keep the industry away from public health. We also use it during our interventions in the COP10 proceedings to support Article 5.3 efforts in countering tobacco industry interference in our work."

“There is a fundamental and irreconcilable conflict between the tobacco industry and public health interests. Governments must perform their mandate of protecting public health, and this includes protecting their bureaucracies from the undue and malicious meddling of the tobacco industry. The Asian Index shines the light on the tobacco industry’s tactics to block strong measures and sway governments towards providing industry friendly regulatory environments. Countries must remain vigilant and step up their efforts in combating industry interference.”

Asia Ulysses Dorotheo Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance

“The tobacco industry interference index is a tool that provides the Ministry of Health, the National Assembly and municipalities with information on the way the industry seeks to be part of the discussions on tobacco control actions carried out in Ecuador.”

“The Tobacco Industry Interference Index was instrumental in providing evidence to support our recommendations to the government to strengthen tobacco control measures. We used the Index to create awareness among parliamentarians on the industry’s tactics to sabotage tobacco control."

"The Index has given us a new vision to do tobacco control. Since launching Côte d’Ivoire’s Index and seeing its impact, we don’t attend any meetings with government officials without the Index. The Index has helped us to protect two implementing texts of Law No. 2019-676 of 23 July 2019 on tobacco control from tobacco industry interference. Texts that had been withdrawn during a previous Council of Ministers and delayed have now been implemented, that is, plain packaging of tobacco and track and trace of illicit tobacco products."

"We see increased interventions from the tobacco industry because Sri Lanka’s tobacco control efforts have resulted in tobacco use declining by 50% over the last ten years. The Tobacco Industry Interference Index has been an important tool in showing the level of interference, comparing Sri Lanka with other countries. Also, it was effectively used to create awareness among policymakers and media on the need for effective implementation of tobacco control in Sri Lanka."

"For the last several years, support from GGTC has significantly boosted the battle of tobacco control and led to concrete achievements. Using Bangladesh’s Index and subsequent engagement with relevant authorities has resulted in sensitization of policymakers on interference issues and also contributed to the denormalization of the tobacco industry."

"Tobacco control is being hampered by an industry that is ensuring that it subverts public health policy development and implementation through dubious means. The Kenya Tobacco Industry Interference Index investigates, exposes, and helps counter both overt and covert tactics of the tobacco industry on tobacco control in Kenya."

"The Index created greater awareness on tobacco control among the public and exposed the tactics of the industry. It helped resume talks with the Ministry of Health to promote the Regulation of the 2020 Tobacco Control Law that has been delayed."

"The Index has enabled us to make great strides in tobacco control both at the national and subnational levels. Thanks to the index and the capacity building done through it, FIC Argentina identified clear evidence of interference and was able to intervene and carry out actions to advance tobacco control."

"Tobacco companies were having easy access to senior government officials and talking behind closed doors. This needs to change. For too many years, our tobacco control law did not advance much, and the issue is not considered a priority. With the publication of the Tobacco Industry Interference Index, policymakers are now more conversant with WHO FCTC Article 5.3. Tobacco control has moved up the policy agenda."

"Palau’s leaders are keen to prevent manipulation by the tobacco industry in public health policy. The Index not only established our benchmark for industry interference, it revealed specific areas where we are vulnerable and therefore the best practice policies that need to be strengthened and adopted."

"Brazil’s successful tobacco control policy also provokes strong reactions from the industry. Through the Index we continue to expose how the tobacco industry and its representatives intervene to undermine the implementation of our strong laws."

"Working with GGTC has been very rewarding in terms of expanding the capacity of Advocacy Center LIFE and of our partners who work on anti-corruption issues to consistently and rigorously monitor and expose the tobacco industry lobbying and interference and highlight it in the media. Public and media exposure of the Tobacco Industry Interference Index plays a crucial role in keeping the industry accountable and preventing state officials from engaging unnecessarily with the industry. According to the Index, Ukraine improved its score between 2020 and 2021. Indeed, the current Government has made a step forward in protecting itself from the tobacco industry pressure, threats, and manipulation."