Project Cerberus

Project Cerberus was executed between 1999 and 2001 and was an attempt by British American Tobacco, Philip Morris and Japan Tobacco to create an alternative to the World Health Organization's global tobacco treaty called the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.

Description

Between 1999 and 2001, British American Tobacco, Philip Morris, and Japan Tobacco International executed Project Cerberus to develop a global voluntary regulatory regime as an alternative to the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). "They aimed to develop a global voluntary regulatory code to be overseen by an independent audit body and to focus attention on youth smoking prevention. The International Tobacco Products Marketing Standards announced in September 2001, however, did not have the independent audit body. Although the companies did not stop the FCTC, they continue to promote the International Tobacco Products Marketing Standards youth smoking prevention as an alternative to the FCTC. Public health civil society groups should help policymakers and governments understand the importance of not working with the tobacco industry," wrote Hadii M. Mamudu , Ross Hammond and Stanton Arnold Glantz in the American Journal of Public Health.