Tobacco industry

Global Tobacco Industry

  • The tobacco industry encompasses growth, preparation, shipment, advertisement, and distribution of tobacco products.
  • It is a global industry, grown in warm, moist environments on all continents except Antarctica.
  • The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control expects member states to implement public health policies regarding tobacco control.
  • Tobacco is one of the most widely used addictive substances in the world.
  • From 1617 to 1793, tobacco was the most valuable cash crop export from British North America and the United States.

Position of the Industry

  • The tobacco industry refers to companies involved in the manufacture of cigarettes, cigars, snuff, chewing tobacco, and pipe tobacco.
  • China National Tobacco Co. is the largest tobacco company in the world.
  • Five firms dominate international markets: Altria, British American Tobacco, Imperial Tobacco, Japan Tobacco, and Philip Morris International.
  • Some countries have state monopolies or small independent firms.
  • Tobacco advertising is increasingly restricted due to health concerns.

Industry Outlook in the United States

  • The tobacco industry in the United States has faced significant challenges since the mid-1990s.
  • Lawsuits have claimed that tobacco causes cancer and that companies knew this but understated the risks.
  • The industry settled with several U.S. states and paid a large cash settlement.
  • The industry has historically been successful in litigation, but its continued success is questionable.
  • The Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act was signed into law in 2009, imposing restrictions on tobacco products.

Impact of Lawsuits and Regulations

  • The tobacco industry has faced lawsuits and regulations primarily in the United States.
  • Differences in legal systems limit lawsuits in other countries.
  • Lawsuits have resulted in significant settlements and damages.
  • The U.S. Supreme Court has denied major grounds for appeal.
  • The aim of regulations is to prevent young people from becoming addicted to cigarettes.

E-cigarette Market Domination by Tobacco Companies

  • Major multinational tobacco companies entered the e-cigarette market by acquiring existing e-cigarette companies.
  • Imperial Tobacco bought Ruyan, the original Chinese e-cigarette company.
  • Tobacco industry dominates the e-cigarette market.
  • All large tobacco companies sell e-cigarettes.
  • Transnational tobacco companies now dominate the electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) market.

Tobacco industry Data Sources

Reference URL
Glossary https://www.alternix.com/blogs/glossary-of-terms/tobacco-industry
Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tobacco_industry
Wikidata https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q907703
Knowledge Graph https://www.google.com/search?kgmid=/m/0dv2s
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