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The tobacco lobby is very influential in Switzerland. This is evident from an international report published last week. In a country comparison, Switzerland performs catastrophically and comes in penultimate place. Only the Dominican Republic scores worse.
How does the tobacco industry lobby work in this country? And how can you limit their power? Thomas Angeli, co-president of Lobbywatch and Observer editor, answers the most important questions in an interview.
How is it possible that Switzerland is so weak internationally when it comes to tobacco prevention?
Thomas Angeli: That doesn’t surprise me at all. It’s a shame that Switzerland ends up in penultimate place. This result simply clearly shows that the industry plays an extremely strong role in this country.
Why is this especially the case in Switzerland?
Three major companies, Philip Morris International, Japan Tobacco International and British American Tobacco, have significant business locations in Switzerland. That could be a reason for that. Philip Morris, for example, has a research center in Neuchâtel with several thousand employees. British American Tobacco has a large production facility in the Jura. These companies are strongly anchored in the regions, especially in Western Switzerland and the Canton of Lucerne, because Japan Tobacco International has a branch there. Therefore, it is a hot potato for politicians from these cantons to go against their interests.
This article was first published in the “Observer”. You can find more exciting articles at www.beobachter.ch.
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This article was first published in the “Observer”. You can find more exciting articles at www.beobachter.ch.
Current: Free webinar ChatGPT and data protection
We’ll show you how to use AI tools like ChatGPT without giving away too much personal information. The webinar is free and lasts one hour – on November 30, 2023 at 6:00 PM. You can register here.
And what about on the national political stage?
Switzerland has a long tradition of being fiercely loyal to the tobacco lobby. Until the early 1990s, there was the “Commission scientifique de l’Association suisse des cigarette manufacturers”, a lobby organization for the tobacco industry with a scientific guise. It has been proven that this organization bought scientists and studies and thereby influenced politics. Although it no longer exists, the tradition of powerful but rather invisible lobbying still lives on.
How do you see the activities of the tobacco lobby in Switzerland?
From the outside it is not very visible. We notice this time and time again at Lobbywatch. There are few apparent ties to parliament, with the exception of SVP national councilor Gregor Rutz, who as president of the Swiss tobacco retailers represents their interests directly in parliament. Less obvious is that the trade association repeatedly supports the interests of the tobacco lobby. The association founded the “Business Alliance for a Moderate Prevention Policy”. This is an unrecognized alliance. There is everyone who has something against the regulation of addictive and recreational substances – from bakers to gas station stores to wine merchants and tobacco companies. In this alliance they are very close to each other, as the consultations show again and again.
Can you give more examples?
From time to time there are events for parliamentarians through the Genuss interest group (IG Genuss), led by former SVP national councilor Sebastian Frehner. For example, in the coming winter session on December 18. The Japan Tobacco International group can also express its concerns at the event. Another example is the IG Clean Environment, which is committed to combating litter and is a member of Swiss Cigarette. This is the merger of Philip Morris, British American Tobacco and Japan Tobacco International in Switzerland.
Are there other strategies through which the tobacco industry can exert influence?
Yes, of course there is also the classic form of lobbying through voluntary commitments. If you want to avoid regulation, simply make voluntary commitments. For example, Swiss Cigarette announced an industry code in 2018 to show that the industry is doing something for society. A classic. The cigarette industry is doing this very aggressively. And because tobacco is also grown in Switzerland, producers can always count on the farmers. As is known, their lobby is very strong.
Can politics limit the power of the tobacco lobby?
The new Tobacco Products Act with further advertising restrictions for tobacco and e-cigarettes will impose certain restrictions on this. But tobacco companies have always been very creative when it comes to maintaining and expanding their businesses. They will find ways to continue to influence legislation. That is also their right. In our political system you are allowed to represent your interests. The only question is how and how much financial resources are invested in lobbying, and whether this is transparent.
If that’s the plan, what’s the problem?
The tobacco lobby is ultimately an industry that promotes a product that is harmful to health, and the public bears the costs. Therefore, it is very relevant to give it a name and look closely. Parliament could show character and push through the Tobacco Products Act, as envisioned in the “Children Without Tobacco” initiative.
Source:Blick
I am Liam Livingstone and I work in a news website. My main job is to write articles for the 24 Instant News. My specialty is covering politics and current affairs, which I’m passionate about. I have worked in this field for more than 5 years now and it’s been an amazing journey. With each passing day, my knowledge increases as well as my experience of the world we live in today.
