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Page 55 of this lengthy document (labeled
Bates No. 301150924) introduces the Infotab ETS Project. The
document proposes that the global tobacco industry work together to
mount an "internationally cohesive campaign" to
fight legislation regulating public smoking. Page
55 begins,
"Environmental tobacco smoke is the subject of
increasing concern worldwide. To resist the legislation that may
result from this concern, the industry should mount an
internationally cohesive campaign."
It continues,
"Infotab is generating a strategy for managing the ETS
issue, to emphasize the doubts that have been expressed in the
scientific debate about the alleged hazards of ETS... A common
strategic line in many countries simultaneously will have a
beneficial effect on the industry worldwide."
This document indicates that the global
tobacco companies sought to act in concert to obscure information
worldwide about the health effects of exposure to secondhand tobacco
smoke. The distribution list for the Infotab ETS Project
document includes representatives of tobacco interests in
Malaysia, Switzerland, France, Ireland, Belgium, Greece, Norway,
Argentina, Australia, the United States, West Germany, Sweden,
Canada, Finland, Zimbabwe, Brazil, Hong Kong, New Zealand,
Netherlands, Denmark, United Kingdom, representatives of Rothmans,
British American Tobacco, Imperial Tobacco, R.J. Reynolds, Reentsma,
Philip Morris and Shook, Hardy and Bacon (U.S. tobacco industry
attorneys).
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Quotes:
[From Page 53]
I am attaching an outline of Infotab plans to
combat the increasing publicity caused by allegations of
health risks associated with Environmental Tobacco Smoke.
Member companies and NMAs (National Manufacturers
Associations) are asked to contribute to this important
piece of work by sending suggestions to Infotab of
strategically useful arguments that have been used in their
areas of influence...
...The Infotab workshop programme in Washington
in October will place considerable emphasis on E.T.S.
PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL
INFOTAB ETS PROJECT
Environmental tobacco smoke is the subject of
increasing concern worldwide. To resist legislation that may
result from this concern, the industry should mount an
internationally cohesive campaign.
Infotab is generating a strategy for managing the
ETS issue, to emphasize the doubts that have been expressed
in the scientific debate about the alleged hazards of ETS
and to place it in context amongst other constituents of
ambient air. A common strategic line in many countries
simultaneously will have a beneficial effect on the industry
worldwide.
As further assistance to NMA's, Infotab is
producing a kitset of public affairs materials for use by
NMA's when addressing the issue of ETS. This will be
presented in the form of a "Campaign Guide" which will
include resources such as leaflets on the main sub-issues
related to ETS and advice on ways to use such material later
after it has been adapted to local conditions.
Amongst the resources included in the kitset will
be a video produced specially for opinion-leaders. This will
outline the main arguments and contain short extracts of
interviews with scientific experts of international
standing...
The Campaign Guide will first address six
sub-issues (others may be added as the situation develops):
--ETS and its effect on health
--ETS and its effect on women, children, babies
and the foetus,
--Smoking at work
--Smoking in aircraft and other forms of
transport
--Smoking in restaurants and other parts of the
hospitality industry
--The contributions of ETS
to ambient air quality
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Notes
Selected from the Guildford documents by
Health Canada. Selected on visit 4 (Nov 2000)
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| Type: |
Report
INFOTAB
(Int'l Tobacco Information Clearinghouse for industry, NMAs)
organizations:
ICOSI (International Commlssion on Smoking Issues) was
formed around 1978. It was reorganized in 1980 or 1981 as
INFOTAB. Infotab is a tobacco
industry-formed information clearinghouse that collected
articles and legislative information. Data was
funnelled to Infotab by members of
the industry. The founding companies are R.J. Reynolds
International, BAT, Philip Morrls, Reemtsma, Rothman's,
Imperial and Gallaher. The last three companies dropped in and
out. A company had to give three years notice to resign
membership from Infotab. BAT gave its notice to resign in late
1987 in conjunction with B&W's resignation from TI.
BAT and B&W's resignations were partially because of the
Barclay controversy. The companies paid the Infotab dues, but the
beneficiaries included the national manufacturing associations
(NMAs) . NMAs worldwide receive newsletters from Infotab. They can
call and get argumentation and information on various topics
like smoking and health, secondhand smoke, etc.. G.C. Hargrove
of BAT was on Infotab.
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