09 March 2022
A new article led by SPECTRUM members Professor Jeff Collin, University of Edinburgh, and Professor Sarah Hill, University of Sydney, explores the potential of a commercial determinants of health perspective for tobacco control.
The article was published in the 30th anniversary issue of Tobacco Control.
International success
Tobacco control is widely recognised for its international success in minimising industry engagement in policy and research, underpinned by Article 5.3 of the WHO’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.
With similarities across other unhealthy commodities, such as alcohol and unhealthy food, the authors highlight an important opportunity to strengthen tobacco control’s links with broader health and development agendas.
Breaking down silos
The success of tobacco control provides valuable learning points for other areas. It also faces challenges that will be more effectively addressed in collaboration across unhealthy commodities.
The authors propose that understanding and addressing tobacco from a commercial determinants of health perspective would facilitate the development of complementary approaches, driving collective action across unhealthy commodities to prevent industry influence and limit health harms.