IILA warns against Tobacco industry interference in Trade
Originally published by KBC Digital — Read the original article →
The International Institute for Legislative Affairs (IILA) has called for stronger safeguards in regional trade negotiations to prevent tobacco industry interference from undermining public health protections.
In a fact sheet titled ‘Unmasking Tobacco Industry Interference in Regional Trade’, released in October 2026, IILA examines how tobacco companies may use regional and continental trade frameworks, particularly those of the East African Community (EAC) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), to challenge or circumvent national tobacco-control laws.
It identifies four areas of concern: the use of regional trade arrangements to move tobacco products across borders, industry influence in legislative discussions, legal challenges to tobacco-control measures and investment protection provisions in trade agreements.
