Watch Tobacco Industry

Tobacco Industry Interference has been the biggest challenge in the development and implementation of tobacco control laws. Tobacco Industry betters understands that the implementation of tobacco control laws would reduce their companies’ sales and profit. Hence, the tobacco industry’s main strategy is to influence law enforcement agencies through its tactics, such as its CSR activities and other financial contribution during a natural crisis. Furthermore, TI targets youths and children through its misleading promotional activities, such as surrogate marketing. Article 5.3 of the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control addresses tobacco industry interference.

Nepal has strong tobacco control laws and regulations, including a complete TAPS ban. Furthermore, WHO FCTC article 5.3 recommends parties protect public health policies from commercial and other vested interests of the tobacco industry and article 13 further recommends banning all sorts of tobacco TAPS as well as other CSR-related activities of the tobacco industry. However, undermining the tobacco control laws, tobacco companies in Nepal have geared up their CSR activities to present themselves as allies of public health in combating the pandemic and to influence government, policymakers, and law enforcement agencies in the effective implementation of tobacco control laws.

Tobacco Industry and CSR Activities During Covid-19 In Nepal
FACT SHEET 2020-2022

Major CSR activities of Surya Nepal Pvt. Ltd. during COVID-19

SNPL donated a total amount of NRs.70 Million (NRs. 10 Million to each province) to the “Funds for treatment and control of COVID-19” established by all seven provinces.
Surya Nepal Pvt. Ltd. provided Medical Supplies Worth NRs. 6.5 Million to 3 Government Hospitals in Kathmandu (Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, National Trauma Center- Bir Hospital, and Civil Hospital).
Surya Nepal Pvt. Ltd. sponsored a golf tournament titled “Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2021-22” organized by Nepal Professional Golf Association. In the event total of 58 professional golfers participated and winners were awarded a cash prize.
Surya Nepal had offered Prof. Dr. Bhagawan Koirala and his team a donation of 50 a million rupees in the name of corporate social responsibility (CSR) for building Kathmandu Institute of Children’s Hospital (KIOCH). On Friday, 23rd April 2021 the agreement was supposed to be signed by both parties. Meanwhile, Mr. Ananda Bahadur Chand (Chairperson of Action Nepal) led a group of media and NGOs and held a press meeting to aware, warn, and build pressure on Prof. Dr. Koirala and his team to reject the donation as accepting donations from Tobacco Industry to build children’s hospital would be completely against the tobacco control law.

Reference

https://myrepublica.nagariknetwork.com/news/surya-nepal-provides-medical-supplies-worth-rs-6-5-million-to-three-govt-hospitals-in-kathmandu/

https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE2104/S00125/exposed-wolf-in-sheeps-clothing-tobacco-industrys-greenwashing-attempts-thwarted.html

Watch Tobacco Industry

RECENT working_area

Pictorial Health Warning (PHW)

Tobacco Tax

Smoke-free Compliance

TAPS ban