Japan Tobacco International Research Articles

Tobacco industry corporate social responsibility activities and other interference after ratification of a strong tobacco law in Ethiopia

BackgroundSince strict new tobacco control laws were introduced in 2019 and 2020, the National Tobacco Enterprise (NTE), the main manufacturer and distributor of cigarettes in Ethiopia, strategically engaged in corporate...

Adopting a WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control-Based Tobacco Control Law in Ethiopia: Sustained Transnational Health Advocacy and Multi-Sectoral Institutionalized Support.

The objective of this study was to document how Ethiopia adopted a WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC)-based tobacco control law. We analyzed publicly available documents, including news media articles, advocacy reports, and government documents. We triangulated these findings by interviewing nine key stakeholders. Data were analyzed to construct a historical and thematic narrative and analyzed through a retrospective policy analysis. Local and international health advocacy efforts helped introduce and support WHO FCTC-based legislation by (1) educating policymakers about the WHO FCTC, (2) providing legal assistance in drafting legislation, (3) generating local data to counter industry claims, and (4) producing media advocacy to expose industry activity. Health advocates worked closely with government officials to create a multi-sectoral tobacco committee to institutionalize efforts and insulate tobacco companies from the policymaking process. Japan Tobacco International bought majority shares of the government-owned tobacco company and attempted to participate in the process, using standard industry tactics to undermine legislative efforts. However, with health advocacy assistance, government officials were able to reject these attempts and adopt a WHO FCTC-based law in 2019 that included 100% smoke-free indoor places, a comprehensive ban on tobacco advertising, and large pictorial health warning labels, among other provisions. Sustained local health advocacy efforts supported by international technical and financial assistance can help establish WHO FCTC-based tobacco control laws. Applying a standardized multi-sectoral approach can establish coordinating mechanisms to further institutionalize the WHO FCTC as a legal tool to build support with other government sectors and insulate the tobacco industry from the policymaking process.

A multi-country analysis of transnational tobacco companies' market share.

The international tobacco market is dominated by five transnational tobacco companies (TTCs) which continue to interfere with measures to reduce tobacco consumption. The aim of this study is to better understand the current international tobacco industry market structure by providing an overview of the market share of these five companies globally. A longitudinal multi-country study design was used to understand market share trends across 90 different countries from 2011 to 2020. Descriptive analyses were conducted based on market share and market size data obtained from Euromonitor Passport. Market share (%), maximal market share (%) and cumulative market share (%) were calculated. Maps and boxplots are used to present the descriptive analyses. Median cumulative TTC market share and interquartile ranges for each year were calculated and stratified by country income level. The average maximal market share of one company in a country was 50% (IQR: 40.0-63.5) in 2020 compared to 51.5% in 2011 (IQR: 41.3-69.0). One of the five TTCs had the highest market share in 77 out of the 90 countries. Philip Morris International was the main market player in 38 countries, followed by British American Tobacco (24), Japan Tobacco International (8), Imperial Brands (6), and lastly China National Tobacco Corporation was only dominant in China. The percentage of cigarettes manufactured by one of the five TTCs remained relatively stable between 2011 (86.4%) and 2020 (85.2%). Average cumulative TTC market shares increased between 2011 and 2020 in both low- and middle-, and high-income countries. The international tobacco market is concentrated with a small number of large players, and this has not changed substantially between 2011 and 2020. The impact of this on the ability of the tobacco industry to resist policy changes is unknown but presents a cause for concern.

PECULIARITIES OF THE ORGANIZATION OF MARKETING ACTIVITIES OF THE TOBACCO PRODUCTS MARKET

The peculiarities of the organization of marketing activities of the tobacco products market are studied, the analysis of the marketing product policy of tobacco products in Ukraine is carried out on the example of Philip Morris International. It is noted that the product policy plays an important role in the commercial and marketing activities of the enterprise, as it determines the actions aimed at meeting the needs of consumers and achieving economic efficiency of the enterprise in the sale of products. The tobacco market in Ukraine is developing dynamically, despite efforts to reduce the consumption of tobacco products, and occupies a leading position in terms of tax contributions to the state budget. The tobacco industry is a highly competitive environment. Cigarette and tobacco production in Ukraine is controlled by multinational tobacco corporations that have set up joint ventures with former state-owned enterprises. As a result of the marketing analysis it was determined that the main representatives of the national market of tobacco products are Philip Morris Ukraine, Imperial Tobacco Group, Japan Tobacco International, PJSC «Pryluky». The SWOT analysis analyzed Philip Morris International’s product policy and identified the company’s strengths as it develops and sells dozens of popular regional, national and international brands, from Marlboro to Parliament. Despite various measures aimed at limiting the advertising and marketing opportunities of the tobacco industry, the company continues to transform its own brand into an annual company. One of the main shortcomings of the company’s global development is insecurity against the problems of the local economy. Changes in exchange rates can have a significant impact on business in key regions. Analyzing the effectiveness of the company’s product policy, on the example of products from different price segments of the market, it was determined that the product structure of Philip MorrisInternational is quite balanced and suggested possible ways to improve the company’s marketing activities.

Claims of Reduced Odor on Tobacco Packs in Low- and Middle-Income Countries.

IntroductionCigarettes designed to have less smoke smell were developed by the tobacco industry to supposedly reduce negative qualities. Cigarettes with marketing claims communicating these designs have been sold in high-income countries and marketing of “less smoke smell” terms on cigarette packaging can promote cigarette use. It is unclear to what extent they have been marketed in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).Aims and MethodsThe Tobacco Pack Surveillance System (TPackSS) systemically collected tobacco packs available in 14 LMICs with high tobacco use between 2013 and 2017. We coded 4354 packs for marketing appeals, including claims related to smoke smell. We describe “less smoke smell” and similar claims found on these packs and compare across country and tobacco manufacturers.ResultsPhrases communicating less smoke smell were present on packs purchased in nine of 14 LMICs, including Bangladesh, Brazil, China, India, Mexico, Philippines, Russia, Ukraine, and Vietnam. The most commonly (74.1%) used terminology was “less smoke smell,” “LSS,” or a combination of the two. Packs from Russia had the most prevalent use (11.8%) of such claims. Companies using these terms across 21 brands included Japan Tobacco International (JTI), British American Tobacco (BAT), Philip Morris International (PMI), and other smaller companies. JTI accounted for 70.9% of packs with such terms.ConclusionsSome of the world’s largest tobacco companies are communicating less smoke smell on packs in LMICs. Less smoke smell and similar phrases on packaging should be prohibited because they can enhance the appeal of cigarettes.ImplicationsTobacco companies are using “less smoke smell” and similar phrases on cigarette packs in LMICs. These claims have the potential to increase the appeal of smoking and promote cigarette use. Countries should consider policies to restrict attractive labeling claims, in accordance with the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) Article 13 guidelines, which recommends restrictions on attractive design elements on tobacco packaging.

Cigarette Filter Ventilation and Biomarkers—Letter

Recently, Carroll and colleagues (1) concluded that filter ventilation was not associated with biomarkers of exposure (BOE) or biomarkers of potential harm (BOPH). When one assesses exposure and harm from different cigarette types, one usually consider results not only in terms of harm to the smoker who uses them, but also on a per cigarette basis. The analyses reported, which did not control for the number of cigarettes smoked per day (CPD) in their filter ventilation groups Q1 to Q4, do not provide the essential information on exposure per cigarette.From the results in Table 3 of the article, we could generate trend probability values quite similar to those presented. We then adjusted for the mean CPD per filter ventilation group shown in Table 2, Ci (i = 1, 2, 3, 4) in various ways, by analyzing loge (Bi/Ci), (loge Bi)/Ci, or loge (Bi)/loge (Ci) where the Bi indicate the biomarker values in the ventilation groups (Supplementary Materials and Methods). On the basis of the results adjusted for age, sex, race, education, smoking duration, smoking status, quit effort, and CPD, we consistently found clear negative trends, often highly statistically significant, of increasing ventilation with decreasing levels of all five BOPH except IL6, and with some BOE, notably total nicotine equivalents (Supplementary Results, Tables 1–4).As we do not have available the individual person biomarker data, we could only conduct approximate analyses. However, we believe our conclusions—that most BOPH and some BOE are reduced per cigarette—would hold were precise analyses conducted, and we ask the authors to report such analyses as they have all the data available. While of course their original conclusion is important, and the accuracy of their analysis undisputed, it is also important to be aware of exposure and harm on a per cigarette basis. Adding this significant covariate into the multivariate analysis allows for more direct comparison between the groups, and shows the interesting contrast with the published results.In conducting such analyses, Carroll and colleagues should realize that the PATH study, on which their analyses were based, includes erroneous CPD data for some individuals, due to a confusion between packs per day and CPD. Thus, CPD in one individual was reported as 10 at Wave 2, 15 at Wave 3, and 300 at Wave 1, the data being entered as 15 packs per day rather than 15 CPD. Such errors need correction before conducting analyses.P. Lee reports other support from Japan Tobacco International S.A. during the conduct of the study; and consultancy with other tobacco companies. J. Fry reports other support from Japan Tobacco International SA during the conduct of the study; and consultancy with other tobacco firms.See the Response, p. 1450

Tobacco companies introduce ‘tobacco-free’ nicotine pouches

A new product category is emerging with several large tobacco companies now selling ‘tobacco-free’ nicotine pouches. These products are sold as preportioned pouches similar to snus, but instead of containing...

‘We have a rich heritage and, we believe, a bright future’: how transnational tobacco companies are using Twitter to oppose policy and shape their public identity

BackgroundThe tobacco industry has a long history of opposing tobacco control policy and promoting socially responsible business practices. With the rise of social media platforms, like Twitter, the tobacco industry...

MS24.02 Legal Action Against the Tobacco Industry in Europe

MS24.02 Legal Action Against the Tobacco Industry in Europe

Advocacy for a mobile court for ban on TAPS by Japan Tobacco International (JTI) and Dhaka Tobacco Industries (DTI) by TC law

Advocacy for a mobile court for ban on TAPS by Japan Tobacco International (JTI) and Dhaka Tobacco Industries (DTI) by TC law

PL 01.01 Current Status of Smoking Cessation Program (Tobacco Control)

PL 01.01 Current Status of Smoking Cessation Program (Tobacco Control)

Japan Tobacco International: To ‘be the most successful and respected tobacco company in the world’

ABSTRACTJapan Tobacco International (JTI) is the international division of Japan Tobacco Incorporated, and the world’s third largest transnational tobacco company. Founded in 1999, JTI’s rapid growth has been the result of a global business strategy that potentially serves as a model for other Asian tobacco companies. This paper analyses Japan Tobacco Incorporated’s global expansion since the 1980s in response to market opening, foreign competition, and declining share of a contracting domestic market. Key features of its global strategy include the on-going central role and investment by the Japanese government, and an expansion agenda based on mergers and acquisitions. The paper also discusses the challenges this global business strategy poses for global tobacco control and public health. This paper is part of the special issue ‘The Emergence of Asian Tobacco Companies: Implications for Global Health Governance’.

Economic policy - Public health linkage and the importance of a regional platform: The case of tobacco control.

Southeast Asia has been the source of some recent encouraging developments on the health front, particularly in the area of tobacco control. In December 2012, the Philippines passed a landmark sin tax legislation that restructures the decade-old tax system for tobacco and alcohol products, updates the tax rates and indexes them for automatic increases, and earmarks its incremental proceeds for universal health financing. In August 2013, Malaysia proposed to exclude tobacco from the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA), a bid to protect tobacco control measures from any state-to-state or investor–state challenge. Earlier in July 2012, it was reported that Health Ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) agreed to withdraw tobacco from the ASEAN Free Trade Agreement (AFTA). While their actual Joint Statement made no mention of trade, the language referring to tobacco control was clear (ASEAN, 2012).

Transnational Tobacco Company Interests in Smokeless Tobacco in Europe: Analysis of Internal Industry Documents and Contemporary Industry Materials

European Union (EU) legislation bans the sale of snus, a smokeless tobacco (SLT) which is considerably less harmful than smoking, in all EU countries other than Sweden. To inform the current review of this legislation, this paper aims to explore transnational tobacco company (TTC) interests in SLT and pure nicotine in Europe from the 1970s to the present, comparing them with TTCs' public claims of support for harm reduction. Internal tobacco industry documents (in total 416 documents dating from 1971 to 2009), obtained via searching the online Legacy Tobacco Documents Library, were analysed using a hermeneutic approach. This library comprises documents obtained via litigation in the US and does not include documents from Imperial Tobacco, Japan Tobacco International, or Swedish Match. To help overcome this limitation and provide more recent data, we triangulated our documentary findings with contemporary documentation including TTC investor presentations. The analysis demonstrates that British American Tobacco explored SLT opportunities in Europe from 1971 driven by regulatory threats and health concerns, both likely to impact cigarette sales negatively, and the potential to create a new form of tobacco use among those no longer interested in taking up smoking. Young people were a key target. TTCs did not, however, make SLT investments until 2002, a time when EU cigarette volumes started declining, smoke-free legislation was being introduced, and public health became interested in harm reduction. All TTCs have now invested in snus (and recently in pure nicotine), yet both early and recent snus test markets appear to have failed, and little evidence was found in TTCs' corporate materials that snus is central to their business strategy. There is clear evidence that BAT's early interest in introducing SLT in Europe was based on the potential for creating an alternative form of tobacco use in light of declining cigarette sales and social restrictions on smoking, with young people a key target. We conclude that by investing in snus, and recently nicotine, TTCs have eliminated competition between cigarettes and lower-risk products, thus helping maintain the current market balance in favour of (highly profitable) cigarettes while ensuring TTCs' long-term future should cigarette sales decline further and profit margins be eroded. Please see later in the article for the Editors' Summary.

Tobacco industry tangos with descriptor ban in Malaysia

Malaysia's 2008 Control of Tobacco Product (Amendment) Regulations (CTPR)1 prohibit use of misleading information or terms on cigarette packages. This measure marks another major milestone in Malaysian public health and...

The transnational tobacco companies’ strategy to promote Codentify, their inadequate tracking and tracing standard

In 2011 INTERPOL, the world's largest police organisation, accepted a donation from Philip Morris International (PMI) of €15 million,1 ,2 an 8% increase to its total annual budget (€60 million...

Cigarette advertising in the Republic of Korea: a case illustration of The One

Korea is regarded as the world's eighth largest cigarette market, which reflects a sizeable population of the country and roughly 40% of Korean men being smokers.1 2 Moreover, Korea has...

Beneficence or maleficence—big tobacco and smokeless products

Beneficence or maleficence—big tobacco and smokeless products

Project Cerberus: Tobacco Industry Strategy to Create an Alternative to the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control

Between 1999 and 2001, British American Tobacco, Philip Morris, and Japan Tobacco International executed Project Cerberus to develop a global voluntary regulatory regime as an alternative to the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). They aimed to develop a global voluntary regulatory code to be overseen by an independent audit body and to focus attention on youth smoking prevention. The International Tobacco Products Marketing Standards announced in September 2001, however, did not have the independent audit body. Although the companies did not stop the FCTC, they continue to promote the International Tobacco Products Marketing Standards youth smoking prevention as an alternative to the FCTC. Public health civil society groups should help policymakers and governments understand the importance of not working with the tobacco industry.

Courtesy and the challenges of implementing smoke‐free policies in Japan

For decades, the tobacco companies have developed a worldwide campaign to oppose the creation of smoke-free environments. Public health efforts to promote clean indoor air have been uneven throughout the world, and in few places have such efforts faced as many challenges as in Japan. The Japanese market is dominated by Japan Tobacco, which is partly owned by the government, and Philip Morris International is also present in Japan. Japan Tobacco and Philip Morris International have developed campaigns promoting courtesy and tolerance that, until recently, seem to have resonated well with the public. The companies also have supported research promoting ventilation and have funded consultants to act as experts in the area of second-hand smoke exposure. Japan is a critical country to study, partly because of the strength of Japan Tobacco in the country and the growth of Japan Tobacco International in Southeast Asia and the rest of the world, and partly because of Japan's ratification of the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. This paper uses tobacco industry documents to provide an overview of the tobacco industry's scientific and political efforts to stifle the development of clean indoor measures in Japan. Learning past industry strategies may assist policymakers and advocates in the development of future public health activities.