Interfering with political and legislative processes

To prevent the adoption of strong, evidence-based control measures, the tobacco industry uses several tactics to influence the legislative process, such as building political alliances, creating delays and pushing for voluntary agreements or minimum regulations.

For example, from 2000, the industry felt particularly threatened by the adoption of Directive 2003/33/EC on the advertising and sponsorship of tobacco products, and tried to preserve “major marketing freedoms in Europe”. The goal was to “secure [an] agreement on a minimum harmonization directive, voluntary code or another acceptable compromise”.