EU Health Commissioner Dalli resigns over Swedish snus scandal, proposed e-cig sales ban

[Bill Godshall]

EU Details Official's Role in tobacco Lobbying
EU Details Official's Role in Tobacco Lobbying - WSJ.com

 

[Bill Godshall]

Per my confusion expressed in comment 17 of this thread, it appears that Malta's next EU Commissioner (to replace Dalli) will automatically become the EU Health Commissioner (once the Maltese choose and the EU approves him).

 

[Bill Godshall]

Another article

Prohibitionists accuse tobacco lobby after office break-in
m.guardian.co.uk

"This ambitious proposal on the side of public health to protect young people from beginning to smoke will not be continued," said Berteletti Kemp. "It is a mess."

The proponents of Dalli's Tobacco Products Directive are now acknowledging it is dead.

"What we are witnessing is the biggest tobacco industry interference in public health policy at the European level. The backdrop to the burglary at our office is the political scene. We believe that is no coincidence," she said.

I expect the anti tobacco groups in Europe will make lots of allegations criticizing the tobacco industry for conspiring to bring down Dalli and for breaking in the offices of tobacco prohibitionist groups (that misrepresent themselves as public health, medical and anti smoking groups).

 

[Sophora]

Malta announces candidate to replace Dalli: Official: Tonio Borg nominated European Commissioner - to stay on as minister until confirmation process is concluded - timesofmalta.com

Don't know if mr Toni Borg will be approved of by the EU Parliament, but he has a bit of a shady past (or is that mandatory for a politician?)
Keywords are civil rights, homophobia and labour unions, just google his name for the full story.

To complete the picture, mr Borg is currently Deputy Prime Minister of Malta, and surprise surprise, the Prime Minister of Malta
doesn't support his nomination Gonzi warned not to replace Dalli with Tonio Borg

 

[sonicdsl]

Malta announces candidate to replace Dalli: Official: Tonio Borg nominated European Commissioner - to stay on as minister until confirmation process is concluded - timesofmalta.com

Don't know if mr Toni Borg will be approved of by the EU Parliament, but he has a bit of a shady past (or is that mandatory for a politician?)
Keywords are civil rights, homophobia and labour unions, just google his name for the full story.

To complete the picture, mr Borg is currently Deputy Prime Minister of Malta, and surprise surprise, the Prime Minister of Malta
doesn't support his nomination Gonzi warned not to replace Dalli with Tonio Borg

Resistance is futile...


Sent from my Galaxy Tab with Tapatalk2

 

[Bill Godshall]

Many more news articles on the fallout of Dalli's resignation, and the break in of tobacco prohibitionist's offices in Brussels.

Snus: an export ban and EU tobacco rules
Snus: an export ban and EU tobacco rules - timesofmalta.com

EU Details Official's Role in Tobacco Lobbying
EU Details Official's Role in Tobacco Lobbying - WSJ.com

E-cigs lobby hail Dalli's departure, prohibitionists raise 'entrapment' spectre
E-cigs lobby hails Dalli

Swedish Match reveals $78 million 'snus bribe' sum
Swedish Match reveals 'snus bribe' sum - The Local

Office of anti-tobacco NGOs in Brussels 'overturned, ransacked by intruders'
Offices of anti-tobacco NGOs in Brussels

Prohibitionists accuse tobacco lobby after office break-in
m.guardian.co.uk
Anti-tobacco NGO will not be cowed - maltatoday.com.mt
Brussels Break-Ins Investigated as 'Tobaccogate' Unfolds - NYTimes.com

Uproar as Commissioner quits in tobacco-linked fraud case
Uproar as Commissioner quits in tobacco-linked fraud case — EUbusiness.com - EU Business News

Dalli claims tobacco industry conspiracy
http://www.independent.com.mt/news.asp?newsitemid=152275

Tobacco lobby inside the European Parliament
Tobacco lobby inside the European Parliament | New Europe

Swedish Hopes Rise on Snus Ban
Swedish Hopes Rise on Snus Ban - WSJ.com

Swedes hope for snus ban reversal after Dalli resignation - minister
Swedes hope for snus ban reversal after Dalli resignation

Dalli's position 'politically untenable' given doubts - Commission
Updated | Dalli's position

Dalli to meet with European Parliament president Martin Schulz
John Dalli to meet European Parliament president Martin Schulz - maltatoday.com.mt

Schulz to write to Barroso, requesting 'further clarifications' on Dalli case
John Dalli to meet European Parliament president Martin Schulz - maltatoday.com.mt

Dalligate - the lobbying, the conspiracy, and the 60 million bribe
Dalligate - the lobbying, the conspiracy, and the

Tonio Borg to take health and consumer policy commission
Tonio Borg to take health and consumer policy commission - maltatoday.com.mt

Tonio Borg nomination: 'Big gamble for country' - Debono
Tonio Borg nomination:

 

[Berylanna]

Looks like everybody considers this a Big Tobacco vs. health issue and thinks Snus is another tobacco-company bid for millions while they kill people.

In a word, "My mind's made up, don't confuse me with the facts."

 

[Bill Godshall]

Dalli's resignation has dramatically increased public awareness of snus, EU's snus ban, and tobacco harm reduction.

The last paragraph in the following posting by Alberto Alemanno sums it up quite nicely (as Dalli would never have resigned if Dalli and other snus prohibitionists hadn't lied about the health risks of snus).
The Snus' Trap: on Commissioner Dalli's Resignation - Alberto Alemanno - Risk Regulation - EU Law - WTO

 

[Vocalek]

An update: http://s.einnews.com/QFTDMa2tyw

 

[Bill Godshall]

And some more news stories, with many more anticipated.

MEP's look for smoking gun after Dalli resignation
MEPs look for smoking gun after Dalli resignation | EurActiv

While there is scientific consensus that snus is far less hazarous than cigarettes, New York Times reporter James Kanter (in article on Dalli's resignation) deceives readers by claiming "Snus is popular in Sweden, where some people consider it a safer alternative to smoking."
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/25/world/europe/dalli-resignation-leaves-eu-with-a-mystery.html?

Dalli to sue over bribery scandal
http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/14f24eb6-1df7-11e2-901e-00144feabdc0.html

Ex-EU Health Chief to fight tobacco bribe links
Ex-EU health chief vows to fight tobacco bribe links | Reuters

OLAF supervisory committee elects new Chairman
[UPDATE] OLAF supervisory committee elects new Chairman | New Europe

It's Barroso vs Dalli in Brussels as EU corruption scandal flares up anew
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world...670c64-1df8-11e2-8817-41b9a7aaabc7_story.html

Letter of President Barroso to Mr. Dalli
EUROPA - PRESS RELEASES - Press Release - Letter of President Barroso to Mr. Dalli

John Dalli row: EU's Barroso denies ousting colleague
BBC News - John Dalli row: EU's Barroso denies ousting colleague

Former EU commissioner launches blistering attack on Barroso
http://www.theparliament.com/latest...sioner-launches-blistering-attack-on-barroso/

Barroso warning to Dalli as AG passes EU report to police
Barroso warning to Dalli as AG passes EU report to police - timesofmalta.com

 

[haiqu]

Polyethylene glycol? How stupid can they be to print that erroneous statement?

PEG400 can be vaped although it isn't normally used. The dangerous one is diethylene glycol (aka common antifreeze).

 

[Bill Godshall]

And some more news about Dalli's resignation and his Tobacco Products Directive. The last article (from today's Malta Times citing a Lancet editorial) states that Dalli's proposal would have banned the sale of e-cigs in the EU.

Dalli immediately barred from entering Commission offices
Dalli immediately barred from entering Commission offices - timesofmalta.com

Case closed on Dalli resignation, and Malta agrees -- Commission
Case closed on Dalli resignation, and Malta agrees ? Commission - timesofmalta.com

Sacking instead of resignation would have meant E9,000 monthly perks loss
Sacking instead of resignation would have meant ?9,000 monthly perks loss - timesofmalta.com


'Dalli's sacking wasn't necessary as he resigned'
?Dalli?s sacking wasn?t necessary as he resigned? - timesofmalta.com

Tobacco lobby focus switches from Dalli to Stoiber
Tobacco lobby focus switches from Dalli to Stoiber | EurActiv

BMJ: New EU tobacco legislation is delayed after health commissioner resigns amid claims of knowledge of bribery attempt
New EU tobacco legislation is delayed after health commissioner resigns amid claims of knowledge of bribery attempt | BMJ

Tobacco directive should not be derailed -- Lancet
Tobacco directive should not be derailed? Lancet - timesofmalta.com

The Lancet: Delay in Tobacco Directive will raise serious questions
The Lancet: Delay in Tobacco Directive will raise serious questions - timesofmalta.com

The EU's revised Tobacco Products Directive – which was set to place substantial new restrictions on tobacco companies' promotion of cigarettes and smokeless tobacco, including banning "e-cigarettes" – is dangerously close to stalling, and "further delay will raise serious questions about whose interest the EU Commission is promoting", according to the authors of a Comment, published in The Lancet journal today.

 

[Bill Godshall]

The Lancet editorial on the EU Tobacco Products Directive is at
The Tobacco Products Directive must not be derailed
http://www.lancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(12)61774-7/fulltext
but one need's to register to obtain more than the first three sentences.

If someone obtains a full text version, please post (as its listed as free) or send me a copy to smokefree@compuserve.com

 

[Bill Godshall]

I've known one of the Lancet editorial's coauthors Martin McKee (who appears to have been the lead author of the Lancet editorial) for about 15 years. He's been promoting NRT and other smoking cessation drugs for many years, and he's a staunch opponent of tobacco harm reduction products and policies.

McKee coauthored another Lancet piece with another harm reduction opponent Anna Gilmore five years ago opposing snus and opposing repeal of snus bans in EU, Australia, NZ, HK and elsewhere.
http://www.lancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(07)61530-X/fulltext

 

[tommy2bad]

That explains a lot Bill, I thought the timesofmalta article was just being supportive of 'our guy'. Now it turns out that it's BP thats supporting their policies.

 

[rolygate]

I wrote up some background to all this, as it's a little complex:

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...products-directive-john-dalli-background.html

 

[Bill Godshall]

http://www.lancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(12)61774-7/fulltext

The EU Tobacco Products Directive must not be derailed
Martin McKee a, Paul Belcher b, Monika Kosinska c

The Lancet, Volume 380, Issue 9852, Pages 1447 - 1448, 27 October 2012

This week, tobacco control activists across Europe were expecting to celebrate a win in a protracted war with the tobacco industry. After an extensive preparatory phase, the European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Policy was due to present his proposals for a revised Tobacco Products Directive to the other Commission services on Oct 22, 2012, with a view to adopting the text by Dec 19, 2012. This process has been derailed after the resignation of EU Commissioner John Dalli, amidst allegations that he was aware of, but took no action to stop, impropriety.1, 2

The proposed contents of the revised Tobacco Products Directive had been trailed in advance, most notably when an advanced draft was leaked to the German media.3 The revised Directive built on a wealth of research, much of it derived from the tobacco industry's internal documents released under US court orders. This information had provided important new insights into how the industry had manipulated the composition of cigarettes—for example, by adding flavourings that would make their products more attractive to children and by changing the pH to increase the initiation of nicotine addiction.4, 5 The research also revealed the sophistication of industry research on cognition to enhance the appeal of images of its products.6

The revised Directive was expected to tackle the industry's once secret tactics to ensnare future generations of smokers. Specifically, it was expected to maintain the existing ban on all forms of smokeless tobacco (except Sweden, which had secured an opt out during its accession to the European Union to protect its domestic snus market), and extend the ban to e-cigarettes.7 These measures recognised concerns that the industry may seek to circumvent the danger that smokers, faced with indoor smoking bans, might quit.8 These products would help to ensure that consumers remained nicotine dependent. The Directive was also expected to: ban a range of flavourings; standardise the width, length, and colour of cigarettes; limit displays at point of sale; require larger graphic warnings on packs; and possibly propose future reviews, including the option of plain cigarette packaging.

Although many aspects of the tobacco industry's response to the proposed revised Directive are not known, it might have adopted a similar approach to that revealed in a report of how it sought to “block, amend, delay” the existing Directive through direct and indirect lobbying to challenge the legality and the technical aspects of the Directive.9 The EU's health Commissioner at that time, David Byrne, was however wise to such tactics, as were a number of key Members of the European Parliament, and the Directive passed.9

This time, it is different. The progress of the Directive has come to a halt and this delay seems likely to prevent its promulgation within the period of the current European Parliament. Activists now fear that the version of the revised Directive that is eventually presented—if at all—will be much weaker than the text as it stands today. Even if it is eventually enacted, the tobacco industry will have benefited from the delay, not only through probable increased sales in the EU but also in other parts of the world that might have followed the EU lead. So what happened? Although many facts are unclear, some key developments are known.

On Oct 16, 2012, Maltese Commissioner Dalli was summoned to meet the President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso. He was told that the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF), had evidence that a Maltese businessman had approached a Swedish smokeless tobacco manufacturer, trading on Dalli's name and claiming to be able to influence the Directive, and seeking considerable financial advantage for doing so. It also seems that this approach might have been made after the draft Directive had been finalised.10 The OLAF report remains secret and the matter is now under consideration by the judicial authorities, but OLAF issued a press release alleging that there was circumstantial evidence to indicate that the Commissioner was aware of the activities of the businessman but failed to act.2 Dalli strenuously denies this charge; there is no suggestion that he either benefited personally or changed the Directive. The tobacco industry is reported to have invoked Dalli's resignation to call for the Directive to be withdrawn.11

2 days later, a series of break-ins took place in an eight storey building in Brussels.12 The burglars are believed to have abseiled from the roof, disabling sophisticated movement sensors. The only offices targeted were those belonging to anti-tobacco and public health organisations. Laptops and documents were stolen while other valuables were untouched.

In a further twist, it was revealed that a senior OLAF official had previously opposed plain cigarette packaging, on the grounds that it might encourage counterfeiting,13 an argument favoured by the tobacco industry but refuted by anti-tobacco activists who note that plain packs will have the same security markings currently used to distinguish genuine from counterfeit products.14

This combination of events has, inevitably, set alarm bells ringing. While the truth will emerge eventually, it may be too late for the revised Tobacco Products Directive. Yet there is no reason why this should be so. There seems to be no evidence that the drafting of the Directive was influenced by the alleged events and the text has been cleared, legally and administratively, to pass to the next stage. The Directive addresses one of the greatest threats to the health of Europeans, is based solidly on evidence, and should be taken forward as planned. The Government of Malta has spared no time in nominating a replacement Commissioner, Tonio Borg. However, there is no need to wait for his nomination to be approved by the European Parliament because the Directive has already been approved by the existing Commissioners. But will this be too late? The only beneficiaries of delay are the tobacco companies and further delay will raise serious questions about whose interests the EU Commission is promoting.

MK is Secretary General of the European Public Health Alliance, one of the organisations whose premises were burgled. The European Smoke Free Partnership, Royal College of Physicians, and European Respiratory Society are all members of the European Public Health Alliance. We declare that we have no conflicts of interest.

References
1 Press statement on behalf of the European Commission. Reference: MEMO/12/788. EUROPA - PRESS RELEASES - Press Release - Press statement on behalf of the European Commission. (accessed Oct 22, 2012).

2 OLAF. OLAF Press Release No. 5, 2012. Brussels. European Commission - OLAF - OLAF press statement. (accessed Oct 22, 2012).

3 Petitjean S. Neutral packaging: pending proposal fires up debate. Europolitics Sept 14, 2012. 14/09/2012 Neutral packaging: Pending proposal fires up debate. (accessed Oct 22, 2012).

4 Wertz MS, Kyriss T, Paranjape S, Glantz SA. The toxic effects of cigarette additives. Philip Morris' project mix reconsidered: an analysis of documents released through litigation. PLoS Med 2011; 8: e1001145. CrossRef | PubMed

5 Rabinoff M, Caskey N, Rissling A, Park C. Pharmacological and chemical effects of cigarette additives. Am J Public Health 2007; 97: 1981-1991. CrossRef | PubMed

6 Anderson SJ, Glantz SA, Ling PM. Emotions for sale: cigarette advertising and women's psychosocial needs. Tob Control 2005; 14: 127-135. CrossRef | PubMed

7 McKee M, Gilmore A. Smokeless tobacco: seeing the whole picture. Int J Epidemiol 2007; 36: 805-808. CrossRef | PubMed

8 Melikian AA, Hoffmann D. Smokeless tobacco: a gateway to smoking or a way away from smoking. Biomarkers 2009; 14 (suppl 1): 85-89. CrossRef | PubMed

9 Mandal S, Gilmore AB, Collin J, Weishaar H, Smith K, McKee M. Block, amend, delay: tobacco industry efforts to influence the European Union's Tobacco Products Directive (2001/37/EC). Brussels: Smoke Free Partnership, 2009.

10 TimesofMalta.com Dalli says Zammit never mentioned e-mail request. Dalli says Zammit never mentioned e-mail request - timesofmalta.com. (accessed Oct 22, 2012).

11 Keating D. The invisible hand of big tobacco?. European Voice Oct 18, 2012.

12 Boseley S. Anti-smoking campaigners accuse tobacco lobby after office break-in. The Guardian Oct 18, 2012.

13 Sansone K. Updated: Ex-Commissioner warned Silvio Zammit in August against harming his reputation. Times of Malta. http://www.timesofmalta.com/article...-Commissioner-insists-he-s-not-corrupt.441901. (accessed Oct 22, 2012).

14 Smokefree ACTION. Plain packaging: protecting children from tobacco marketing. Plain Packaging. (accessed Oct 21 2012).

a Department of Health Services Research and Policy, School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1H 9SH, UK

b EU Government Affairs, Royal College of Physicians, London, UK

c European Public Health Alliance, Brussels, Belgium

(Thanks to Placebo Effect for obtaining and sending me this full text version).

 

[Bill Godshall]

So my question is how did Martin McKee, Paul Melcher and Monica Kosinksa know that Dalli's Tobacco Product Directive banned e-cigarettes? Of course the answer is that they were among the folks who lobbied Dalli urging him to ban e-cigarettes, extend the snus ban to other smokeless products and perhaps to Sweden, and to make many cigarette policy changes that would do little or nothing to reduce smoking. The only policy change that I think could reduce smoking is requiring truthful and helpfully informative color graphic warnings on cigarette packs, but I'm sure their proposed warnings would be all 'shock and awe' propaganda to confuse and scare people and to demonize smokers.

The reference the authors cite for their claim that Dalli's Tobacco Products Directive would ban e-cigs was a 2007 article McKee coauthored opposing snus.

It should be noted that European Public Health Alliance (where Ms. Kosinka works) was one of the organizations in Brussels (along with the European Respiratory Society, which denounced e-cigarettes several weeks ago claiming they damaged lungs) and another abstinence-only prohibitoinist group that was burglurized last week following Dalli's resignation.

 

[Bill Godshall]

Please note that I edited a sentence in post #34 of this thread as I'm not certain that Martin McKee has been funded by drug companies (as I was thinking of another Brittish smoking cessation product promotor named Martin Raw).

Please note that the three authors of the Lancet editorial all declared no conflicts of interest, but I suspect that all of their organizations have recieved funding from drug companies in the past several years.

The European Respiratory Society (which the Lancet editorial claims is part of the European Public Health Alliance) has received lots of funding from drug companies, as Mike Siegel exposed a month ago at:
http://tobaccoanalysis.blogspot.com/2012/09/european-respiratory-society-hides.html

http://tobaccoanalysis.blogspot.com/2012/09/european-respiratory-society-publicly.html
and
http://tobaccoanalysis.blogspot.com/2012/09/researcher-who-is-unsure-that-smoking.html

 

[DC2]

This is all so disgusting that it leaves me speechless.