TMA argues against Government’s dictatorial approach

Responding to the Secretary of State for Health’s announcement of further tobacco control measures, Christopher Ogden, Chief Executive of the TMA, said:

“We welcome any new initiatives to crack down on the illicit trade in tobacco products, which undermines both public health policy and the legitimate industry. We have always said that these measures are an effective way to support youth access prevention and we have a proven track record of working closely with HMRC, UKBA and law enforcement agencies to combat the trade in illicit product.

“Other tobacco control measures, such as the tobacco display ban do nothing to meet public health policy objectives but will instead impose further unwarranted restrictions on legitimate businesses and private citizens alike.

“Rigorous application of proof of age requirements is a proven way of reducing youth smoking. The focus on measures that are not backed up by any credible evidence is a distraction from the need to enforce existing laws.

“It is contradictory to declare an intention to reduce illicit trade and then to favour ineffective measures, such as the display ban, that actually facilitate illicit trade.

“The Government’s dictatorial approach to tobacco control is hardly conducive to changing consumer lifestyle choices.”

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For further information and/or interviews please contact:

Dirk Vennix, Director of Communications t: 020 7544 0111 m: 07872 376748 e: dvennix@the-tma.org.uk
or
Zoe Walker, Corporate Affairs Manager t: 020 7544 0115 m: 07790 060041 e: zwalker@the-tma.org.uk

Notes to Editors:
The TMA is the trade association for tobacco companies that operate in the UK. Our members are British American Tobacco UK Ltd (www.bat.com), Gallaher Ltd (a member of the JTI Group of companies – www.jti.com), and Imperial Tobacco Ltd. (UK). (www.imperial-tobacco.com)
HMRC figures released at last year’s Pre Budget Report showed that in 2007/08 up to £3.7 billion in revenue was lost through smuggling and crossborder shopping in tobacco products and over the last ten years these losses exceed £45 billion.

The Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) between the TMA’s member companies and HMRC creates a comprehensive framework for co-operation aimed at combating the smuggling of both genuine and counterfeit tobacco products into the UK as well as seeking to deter all aspects of the illicit trade in tobacco products. Under the MoU there is an undertaking that both industry and HMRC will work together to identify and assess technologies that could be of benefit in tackling the trade in illicit tobacco products – the introduction of covert anti-counterfeit technology is a prime example of the benefit of the MoU approach in identifying particular concerns and quickly arriving at effective solutions.

Further information can be found on the TMA’s website – www.the-tma.org.uk.