The Major Cigarette Manufacturers and Tobacco Harm Reduction

British American Tobacco, RJ Reynolds and Philip Morris USA

Tobacco harm reduction was not on the radar of the world's major cigarette manufacturers for many years. That changed in 2006, when British American Tobacco issued a press release emphasizing "its commitment to develop and market less harmful tobacco products." Since that time, BAT's affiliate companies have launched test markets for Swedish-style snus in South Africa, Japan and Canada, and BAT also sells snus in Sweden. Read the press release here.

In 2006 RJ Reynolds began to test market Camel Snus in the United States. Reynolds position on tobacco harm reduction was substantiated in April 2008 in a speech by CEO Susan M. Ivey at the Clinton School of Public Service at the University of Arkansas. She stated that "It is entirely within our collective abilities to create and approve reasonable tobacco regulation that … reduces the harm caused by tobacco products … provides accurate information to adult tobacco consumers … encourages development of new-generation tobacco products … and allows for legitimate competition." Her speech was a straightforward endorsement of tobacco harm reduction. After hearing about it, I contacted Reynolds and requested a copy. The entire speech can be read here.

In 2007 Philip Morris USA announced that it would establish test markets for Marlboro Snus in the United States. In December 2007, PM USA sent a letter to Acting Surgeon General Steven K. Galson, "requesting that [his office] examine the available scientific evidence and communicate to the public the relative health risks from the use of [smokeless tobacco] products compared to the health risks from smoking cigarettes." PM USA also attached a report prepared by PM scientists that "...supports the view that the relative risks of [smokeless tobacco] products are far less than from cigarette smoking." The PM USA letter and report can be read here.

In January 2008 the Surgeon General responded to the PM USA request. That letter can be read here. In June 2008 PM USA sent these documents to 50 tobacco research and policy experts in the US and other countries.

It is now evident that British American Tobacco, RJ Reynolds and Philip Morris have credible and scientifically accurate positions on tobacco harm reduction. It is also painfully clear that progress on this issue is being impeded by unsound and unsustainable actions -- and inaction -- by organizations (like the Cancer Society) and individuals (like the Surgeon General) that have betrayed the trust that Americans have invested in them.