Submission to the Joint Select Committee of Parliament on the Tobacco Control Bill:Tobacco Industry Interference in Health Policy Making

Abstract

In this submission, we discuss the Jamaican Tobacco Control Bill’s provisions covering tobacco industry interference in health policy. We begin by describing the importance of comprehensive implementation of the Guidelines for Implementation of Article 5.3 of the World Health Organization (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), which seek to prevent tobacco industry interference in health policy making. We then go on to discuss the strengths and weakness of the Bill in implementing the Guidelines based on research conducted with the Jamaica Coalition for Tobacco Control. Finally, we present recommendations on how the Bill can be strengthened to ensure strong implementation of the Guidelines.