Tobacco industry fears a more restrictive environment after COP11.

The Interstate Tobacco Industry Union (SindiTabaco) expressed concern about the recommendations discussed at the 11th Conference of the Parties to the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (COP11), held in November in Geneva, Switzerland. According to the organization, the proposals could create a more restrictive environment for the production chain, which includes thousands of producers in southern Brazil.

Considered one of the countries that most quickly adopts international anti-tobacco guidelines, Brazil may increase regulatory pressure on segments ranging from cultivation to marketing. Among the points of concern, the president of SindiTabaco, Valmor Thesing (In the photo), he cites possible stricter environmental requirements, especially related to cigarette filters. "If they move forward in this direction, the risk is pushing consumers from the legal market to the illegal one," he says.

The conference brought together more than 1.600 delegates from member countries, NGOs, and observers. However, representatives of producers, industry workers, parliamentarians, and even the press were prevented from following the discussions, which generated expressions of outrage in Brazil. Even from a distance, Thesing highlights the political mobilization that occurred in parallel. “The actions of federal and state deputies were essential to guarantee some dialogue. Without them, there would have been no space for discussion,” he points out.

Concern about holding the industry accountable

Among the issues that most concern the sector is Article 19, which encourages Parties to adopt accountability legislation and greater control over the entire supply chain. For SindiTabaco, this move could tighten the regulatory environment in the coming years. "Parliamentary mobilization will continue to be fundamental in the post-COP period. Without political support, the sector will face increasingly restrictive rules," says Thesing.

The next international conference on the topic, COP12, is scheduled for 2027 in Yerevan, Armenia.