The European Commission said it would investigate the extent of its influence by the tobacco industry, Politico reported, following complaints about the EU's inconsistent approach to tobacco lobbyists.
In April, European Ombudsman Emily O'Reilly noted that requirements for tighter controls and transparency implemented by the Commission's departments responsible for health and customs policy are not necessarily enforced by other director-generals.
O'Reilly's investigation found that tobacco industry representatives met with European Commission officials responsible for agriculture, climate action, environment, trade, the internal market and other departments. Meeting minutes are often non-existent and lack detail.
Article 5.3 of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control instructs Parties to protect public health policies from the commercial interests of the tobacco industry and other vested interests.
The tobacco industry maintains that the committee has applied this provision of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control too broadly, noting that Article 5.3 does not completely prohibit discussion or participation.
