Unpacking commercial sector opposition to European smoke-free policy: lack of unity, 'fear of association' and harm reduction debates

Objective: Tobacco companies have made extensive efforts to build alliances against comprehensive smoke-free legislation. This article analyses the interaction between actors who opposed the development of the European Council Recommendation on smoke-free environments. Methods: Drawing on data from 200 policy documents and 32 semistructured interviews and using qualitative textual analysis and organisational network analysis, opponents’ positions on, and responses to, the policy initiative, strategies to oppose the policy, and efforts to build alliances were investigated. Results: The non-binding nature of the policy, scientific evidence and clear political will to adopt EU-wide measures combined to limit the intensity of commercial sector opposition to the comprehensive EU smoke-free policy. Most tobacco companies, led by the Confederation of European Community Cigarette Manufacturers (CECCM), voiced reservations against the proposal, criticised the policy process and fought flanking measures on product regulation. However, some companies focused on instigating harm reduction debates. These divergent approaches and the reluctance of other commercial actors to demonstrate solidarity with the tobacco sector prevented the establishment of a cohesive commercial sector alliance. Conclusions: The comparatively limited opposition to EU smoke-free policy contrasts with previous accounts of tobacco industry resistance to tobacco control. While context-specific factors can partially explain these differences, the paper indicates that the sector's diminished credibility and lack of unity hampered political engagement and alliance building. Industry efforts to emphasise the benefits of smokeless tobacco during smoke-free policy debates highlight the potential of harm reduction as a gateway for tobacco companies to re-enter the political arena

Best of enemies: using social network analysis to explore a policy network in European smoke-free policy

Networks and coalitions of stakeholders play a crucial role in the development and implementation of policies, with previous research highlighting that networks in tobacco control are characterised by an antagonism between supporters and opponents of comprehensive tobacco control policies. This UK-based study used quantitative and qualitative network analysis (drawing on 176 policy submissions and 32 interviews) to systematically map and analyse a network of actors involved in the development of European Union (EU) smoke-free policy. Policy debates were dominated by two coalitions of stakeholders with starkly opposing positions on the issue. One coalition, consisting primarily of health-related organisations, supported comprehensive EU smoke-free policy, whereas the other, led by tobacco manufacturers' organisations, opposed the policy initiative. The data suggest that, aided by strong political commitment of EU decision makers to develop smoke-free policy, advocates supporting comprehensive EU policy were able to frame policy debates in ways which challenged the tobacco industry's legitimacy. They then benefited from the stark polarisation between the two coalitions. The paper provides empirical evidence of the division between two distinct coalitions in tobacco policy debates and draws attention to the complex processes of consensus-seeking, alliance-building and strategic action which are integral to the development of EU policy. Highlighting network polarisation and industry isolation as factors which seemed to increase tobacco control success, the study demonstrates the potential significance and value of FCTC article 5.3 for tobacco control policy-making

Conflicted and confused? Health harming industries and research funding in leading UK universities

University researchers face growing expectations to engage with commercial sources of funding. This pressure is likely to increase in the context of the covid-19 squeeze1 and, in the UK, both Brexit and a research impact agenda promoting external collaboration.2 Alongside this, there are efforts to reduce conflicts of interest in research involving pharmaceutical and medical device companies,3 and policies rejecting tobacco industry funding.4 Yet limited attention has been paid to funding from other health damaging industries such as alcohol, gambling, and ultra-processed food and drink. How well are universities equipped to manage such conflicts of interest

"They have a right to participate as a stakeholder":Article 5.3 implementation and government interactions with the tobacco industry in Ethiopia

INTRODUCTION: This paper explores implementation of Article 5.3 of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control in Ethiopia. The analysis highlights how operationalising key requirements of Article 5.3, such as minimising policy engagement with the tobacco industry, has been mediated by path-dependent processes of stakeholder consultation and collaboration that have persisted following privatisation of Ethiopia’s state-owned tobacco monopoly. METHODS: We conducted semistructured interviews with key officials (n=21) working in tobacco control policy, with high levels of access secured across ministries and agencies beyond health. RESULTS: We found contrasting levels of awareness of Article 5.3 across government sectors, with extremely limited awareness in departments beyond health. The data also highlight competing ideas about conflict of interest, in which recognition of a fundamental conflict of interest with the tobacco industry is largely confined to health actors. Beyond limited cross-sectoral awareness and understanding of Article 5.3, gaps in implementation are exacerbated by assumptions and practices around stakeholder consultation, in which attempts to minimise policy interactions with the tobacco industry are mediated by institutionally embedded processes that presume active engagement. The results also highlight a continuation of the close relationship between the Ethiopian government and tobacco monopoly following its privatisation. CONCLUSION: The Ethiopian government’s recent achievements in tobacco control legislation require that policymakers are actively supported in reconciling perceived tensions and requirements for stakeholder consultation. Effective tobacco control governance would be further enhanced by enabling government agencies to more clearly identify which interactions with the tobacco industry are strictly necessary under Article 5.3 guideline recommendations

LeaPi: Wireless Diagnostic Assistant

Nearly every person who usesWiFi on a daily basis has had trouble with a bad connection. Wireless connectivity issues are often difficult to diagnose and fix. Current solutions such as wired extenders, and MeshWiFi commercial packages are expensive and do not provide the user with a system that suggests placement of mesh units to maximize coverage. Our solution is an inexpensive and open-source diagnostic tool that maps out Wifi quality and informs the user of interference. With a simple, meaningful display, users will find trouble spots in their house, diagnose why IoT devices are not working, effectively place WiFi extenders and mesh nodes, and more

LauncherOne Now in Orbit: Dedicated Air-Launch Brings Proven, Responsive Space Access with Historic NASA VCLS Demonstration Mission

The Launcher One air-launched rocket system, under commercial development by Virgin Orbit since 2015, is now fully flight-qualified. This small, dedicated launch vehicle first reached orbit on January 17th, 2021 as part of the NASA Venture Class Launch Services (VCLS) ELaNa 20 mission, injecting ten small satellites into orbit. This historic mission saw the world’s first liquid-propulsion, orbital class air-launched vehicle succeed with incredible performance and accuracy. Founded upon the capabilities of the Boeing 747-400 carrier aircraft, LauncherOne maintains safe operations using flight controls and an Autonomous Flight Safety System (AFSS) that have been fully internally-developed and certified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) of the United States. T his uniquely mobile launch system is designed to bring tailored small satellite launch services to any corner of the globe. This paper details the inaugural NASA VCLS LauncherOne mission. Review of the mission and customer outcome will reveal how some of the most challenging aspects of air-launch have now been achieved by the LauncherOne design. In successfully overcoming the design challenges of a cryogenic air-launch vehicle, the substantial accompanying rewards can now be realized. We have shown how such a modular launch system can be replicated and disaggregated across many sites, offering flexibility and extreme orbital access for small satellites without a fixed infrastructure or permanent footprint. Accordingly, we have continued to grow our spaceport network to support domestic and international mission planners that benefit from such a capability. The status of these activities and facilities will be discussed. Following extensive qualification testing, the NASA VCLS mission success, and all of the associated cryogenic loading and vehicle preparation operations successfully completed from an austere runway apron, LauncherOne’s air-launch approach is now proven to be foundationally responsive. Virgin Orbit and the dedicated, flight-proven LauncherOne system are now uniquely positioned to both serve and grow the global small satellite market from spaceports around the world

Challenges of conflict of interest, co-ordination and collaboration in small island contexts:Towards effective tobacco control governance in the UK Overseas Territories

INTRODUCTION: The UK Overseas Territories (UKOTs) are semi-autonomous jurisdictions that face distinctive challenges in implementing tobacco control and protecting policy from industry influence. They are not eligible to become independent parties of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), although they can apply for treaty extension under the UK’s ratification. This study explores the relevance of the FCTC—particularly Article 5.3—for tobacco control governance across a sample of UKOTs. METHODS: From March to May 2019, we interviewed 32 stakeholders across four territories (Anguilla, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, St Helena) at diverse stages in implementing key FCTC measures. Thematic qualitative analysis explored awareness and perceptions in relation to tobacco control. RESULTS: Interviewees’ accounts highlight the complexity of protecting health policy from industry influence in a context where the ‘tobacco industry’ covers a diverse range of actors. Despite not being formally covered by the FCTC, several health officials spoke about the strategic value of invoking Article 5.3 in the context of tensions with economic priorities. Nevertheless, effective tobacco control governance is complicated by territories’ reliance on local businesses—including tourism—and close social connections that occasionally blur the lines between private and public spheres. CONCLUSIONS: The UKOTs share many characteristics with other small island jurisdictions, creating distinctive challenges for advancing tobacco control and protecting policy from industry interference. Despite their complex status in relation to WHO and its architecture, these territories benefit from the norms embedded in the FCTC and the systems that support its implementation