After the presidential decree on the relaxation of some aspects of Decree No. 120 of April 2019 (relating to the neutral or generic packaging and labeling of all tobacco products and cigarettes), by former President Tabaré Vázquez, a series of aspects are added controversial regarding a wording, which from the opposition, has been questioned as functional to the tobacco industry.
Indeed, in the last few hours, the Sudestada portal reported that on April 28, the then advisor to the president, Luis Lacalle Pou, and current director general of the Ministry of the Interior, Nicolás Martinelli, met with the directors of Montepaz, in company headquarters.
On Martinelli’s Instagram account, a photograph of the chief can be seen together with the tobacco company’s directors. In the graphic record, Martinelli states that “Montepaz was founded in 1880, it is a 100% Uruguayan capital company dedicated to the cultivation and processing of tobacco.”
It stands out: “Nearly 110 producing families from Rivera and Artigas process more than 700,000 kg of tobacco per year, ensuring that Montepaz buys the entire harvest. In total, they generate 420 direct jobs and more than 500 indirect ones. Thank you very much for having me.”
Violation of agreements
According to Sudestada, said meeting of Martinelli with the authorities of the tobacco company implies a “violation” of the Framework Convention of the World Health Organization for Tobacco Control, by the Uruguayan government.
Indeed, the agreement is not only limited to the approval of health regulations, but also implies “obligations regarding ties with the tobacco industry.”
Article 5.3 of the Convention states: “When establishing and applying their public health policies related to tobacco control, the parties shall act in a manner that protects said policies against commercial interests and other vested interests of the tobacco industry, in accordance with national legislation”.
In addition, it provides that the signatory countries of the Convention “should ensure that any interaction with the tobacco industry regarding issues related to tobacco control or public health is responsible and transparent.”
They also recommend “establishing measures to limit interactions with the tobacco industry and ensure the transparency of those that occur.”
Another aspect that is mentioned is that “any preferential treatment of the tobacco industry would be in conflict with the tobacco control policy.”
The meeting was held prior to the drafting of the Decree, the content of which was required by Montepaz in various meetings of parliamentary commissions that analyzed the issue.
