Tobacco control law implementation in a middle-income country: transnational tobacco control network overcoming tobacco industry opposition in Colombia
Open accessAbstract
The objective of this paper is to examine the implementation of Colombia's tobacco control law. Methods involved are triangulated government legislation, news sources, and interviews with policy-makers and health advocates in Colombia. Colombia, a middle-income country, passed a tobacco control law in 2009 that included a prohibition on tobacco advertising, promotion, and sponsorship; and required pictorial health warning labels, ingredients disclosure, and a prohibition on individual cigarette sales. Tobacco companies challenged the implementation through litigation, tested government enforcement of advertising provisions and regulations on ingredients disclosure, and lobbied local governments to deprioritise policy responses to single cigarette sales. A transnational network including international health groups and funders helped strengthen domestic capacity to implement the law by; promoting public awareness of Ley [Law] 1335; training local health department staff on enforcement; facilitating health agencies' sharing of educational strategies; and providing legal defence assistance. This network included vigilant efforts by local health groups, which continuously monitored and alerted the media to noncompliance, engaged government officials and policy-makers on implementation, and raised public awareness. Support from international health NGOs and funders and continuous engagement by local health groups enhanced implementation capacities to counter continued tobacco industry interference and ensure effective tobacco control implementation.
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
Existing studies on how tobacco control policy is passed at the national level focus more on tactics used by opponents rather than proponents.
“Moreover, existing studies on how tobacco control policy is passed at the national level are focused more on tactics used by opponents (eg, lobbying, litigation, protests and other tactics to delay or subvert policy passage) rather than proponents,25–32 with few exceptions.33–36”
From Seven-year tobacco tax plan in Ukraine: a case study of the actors, tactics and factors motivating policy passage (2022) · cites this paper as [25]
The Introduction describes tobacco-industry lobbying and litigation, and the Discussion documents opposition tactics in Colombia. But this paper studies implementation after a national law was passed and also examines advocates’ responses; it does not establish that studies of national policy passage focus more on opponents than proponents. Our copy provides no page numbers for these passages. (LLM, conf=0.82)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredPowerful actors in countries across the globe and across industries threatened by policy change similarly use lobbying to water down policy to their benefit, sometimes behind closed doors.
“Additionally, like the tobacco industry in Ukraine, powerful actors in countries across the globe and across industries threatened by policy change similarly use lobbying to water down policy to their benefit, sometimes behind closed doors.20–22 24–26 28 33 34 63–65”
From Seven-year tobacco tax plan in Ukraine: a case study of the actors, tactics and factors motivating policy passage (2022) · cites this paper as [25]
The Introduction says the tobacco industry fights policies through lobbying, and the Discussion reports lobbying against local enforcement in Colombia and similar opposition in other countries. The paper supports the tobacco-industry example, but does not establish the claim across industries or say that the lobbying occurred behind closed doors. Page numbers were not available in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.85)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredConstitutional courts upheld strong tobacco control policies in fourteen countries.
“Constitutional courts upheld strong tobacco control policies in fourteen countries.17199399”
From Defending strong tobacco packaging and labelling regulations in Uruguay: transnational tobacco control network versus Philip Morris International (2018) · cites this paper as [19]
The Results section (The prohibition of TAPS; page unavailable) says the Colombian Constitutional Court upheld a tobacco advertising, promotion, and sponsorship law in 2010. The paper does not report constitutional courts upholding tobacco control policies in fourteen countries; it establishes this outcome for Colombia only. (LLM, conf=0.90)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredFew articles focus on countering interference and the role of advocates in this.
“Few articles16–19 focus on countering interference and the role of advocates in this.”
From Needs of LMIC-based tobacco control advocates to counter tobacco industry policy interference: insights from semi-structured interviews (2020) · cites this paper as [18]
The transnational tobacco control network supported the creation of the WHO FCTC and assisted governments in implementing it, which has accelerated the adoption of tobacco control regulations, including pictorial health warning labels on cigarette packages.
“This network supported the creation of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC)15 and assisted governments in implementing it,16–19 which has accelerated the adoption of tobacco control regulations,20–23 including pictorial health warning labels (HWLs) on cigarette packages.24”
From Defending strong tobacco packaging and labelling regulations in Uruguay: transnational tobacco control network versus Philip Morris International (2018) · cites this paper as [19]
The activities advocates engage in to counter tobacco industry interference are aligned with those outlined in the literature on countering tobacco industry interference in LMICs, HICs and supranational settings, and directly address some of the main tobacco industry interference tactics, most notably producing and disseminating information, seeking direct access to policymakers and using front g
“The activities are aligned with those outlined in the literature on countering TII in LMICs,16–19 27–30 HICs31 32 and supranational settings,33 and directly addressing some of the main TII tactics, most notably, producing and disseminating information, seeking direct access to policymakers and using front groups and third parties.9 13–15 34”
From Needs of LMIC-based tobacco control advocates to counter tobacco industry policy interference: insights from semi-structured interviews (2020) · cites this paper as [18]
The united front between local and international health organisations demonstrates the value of the transnational tobacco control network in combating tobacco industry interference and supporting FCTC implementation, especially in low-income and middle-income countries.
“The united front between local and international health organisations demonstrates the value of the transnational tobacco control network in combating tobacco industry interference and supporting FCTC implementation,139495 especially in low-income and middle-income countries.192057”
From Defending strong tobacco packaging and labelling regulations in Uruguay: transnational tobacco control network versus Philip Morris International (2018) · cites this paper as [19]
Self-check
Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.
The self-check needs the paper’s full text.
Cites
Exposing and addressing tobacco industry conduct in low-income and middle-income countries
Gilmore, A. B., Fooks, G., Drope, J., Bialous, S. A., & Jackson, R. R. (2015) · The Lancet · doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(15)60312-9 · Cited by 372 · see citing works
Hiilamo, H., & Glantz, S. A. (2015) · Social Science & Medicine · doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2014.11.054 · Cited by 58 · see citing works
Self-citationCrosbie, E., Sosa, P., & Glantz, S. A. (2017) · Tobacco Control · doi:10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2015-052701 · Cited by 47 · see citing works
Self-citation
Flagged first, then by citations
Research works printed but not linked: 41
- Assunta M Chapman S 2004 ‘The world’s most hostile environment’: How the tobacco industry circumvented Singapore’s advertising ban Tob Control 13 Suppl. 2 ii51 ii57 doi:13/suppl_2/ii51 [pii]10.1136/tc.2004.008359 15564221 PMC1766159 · DOI
- Bryan-Jones K Bero LA 2003 Tobacco industry efforts to defeat the occupational safety and health administration indoor air quality rule American Journal of Public Health 93 4 585 592 12660202 PMC1447795
- Bump JB Reich MR Adeyi O Khetrapal S 2009 Towards a political economy of tobacco control in low- and middle-income countries World Bank Retrieved from http://siteresources.worldbank.org/HEALTHNUTRITIONANDPOPULATION/Resources/281627-1095698140167/PoliticalEconTobaccoFINAL.pdf 22585874
- Cabrera OA Carballo J 2013 Tobacco control litigation: Broader impacts on health rights adjudication The Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics 41 1 147 162 10.1111/jlme.12011 23581663 · DOI
- Cairney P Studlar D Mamudu H 2012 Global tobacco control: Power, policy, governance and transfer London Palgrave Macmillan
- Collin J 2012 Tobacco control, global health policy and development: Towards policy coherence in global governance Tobacco Control 21 2 274 280 10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2011-050418 22345267 PMC4474152 · DOI · Paper page
- Crosbie E Glantz SA 2014 Tobacco industry argues domestic trademark laws and international treaties preclude cigarette health warning labels, despite consistent legal advice that the argument is invalid Tobacco Control 23 3 e7 10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2012-050569 PMC3725199 23179728 · DOI · Paper page
- Crosbie E Sebrie EM Glantz SA 2011 Strong advocacy led to successful implementation of smokefree Mexico city Tobacco Control 20 1 64 72 10.1136/tc.2010.037010 21059606 PMC3089444 · DOI · Paper page
- Crosbie E Sebrie EM Glantz SA 2012 Tobacco industry success in Costa Rica: The importance of FCTC article 5.3 Salud Pública de México 54 1 28 38 22286826 PMC3296364
- Crosbie E Sosa P Glantz SA 2016 Costa Rica’s implementation of the framework convention on tobacco control: Overcoming decades of industry dominance Salud Pública de México 58 1 62 70 26879509 PMC4758506
- Crosbie E Sosa P Glantz SA 2017a Defending strong tobacco packaging and labelling regulations in Uruguay: Transnational tobacco control network versus Philip Morris international Tobacco Control 10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2017-053690 PMC5610601 28336521 · DOI · Paper page
- Crosbie E Thomson G 2017 Regulatory chills: Tobacco industry legal threats successfully delaying standardized plain packaging in New Zealand. Nicotine Tob Res Under review PMC6490166 29649194
- Dearlove JV Bialous SA Glantz SA 2002 Tobacco industry manipulation of the hospitality industry to maintain smoking in public places Tobacco Control 11 2 94 104 12034999 PMC1763854
- Drope J 2011 Tobacco control in Africa: People, politics and policies London Anthem Press
- Drope J Glantz S 2003 British Columbia capital regional district 100% smokefree bylaw: A successful public health campaign despite industry opposition Tobacco Control 12 3 264 268 10.1136/tc.12.3.264 12958385 PMC1747755 · DOI
- Fundación InterAmericana del Corazón - Argentina, Corporate Accountability International, Fundación InterAmericana del Corazón México, Aliança de Controle do Tabagismo, Chile Libre de Tabaco, CIET Uruguay 2014 Health is not negotiable, 2nd Edition: Civil society against the tobacco industry’s strategies in Latin America, case studies 2014 Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Gneiting U 2016 From global agenda-setting to domestic implementation: Successes and challenges of the global health network on tobacco control Health Policy and Planning 31 Suppl. 1 i74 i86 10.1093/heapol/czv001 26253698 PMC4954556 · DOI · Paper page
- Gonzalez M Glantz SA 2013 Failure of policy regarding smoke-free bars in the Netherlands European Journal of Public Health 23 1 139 145 doi:ckr173 [pii]10.1093/eurpub/ckr173 22143826 PMC3553585 · DOI
- Griffith G Cardone A Jo C Valdemoro A Sebrie E 2010 Implementation of smoke free workplaces: Challenges in Latin America Salud Pública de México 52 Suppl. 2 S347 S354 doi:S0036-36342010000800033[pii] 21243208
- Hiilamo H Crosbie E Glantz SA 2014 The evolution of health warning labels on cigarette packs: The role of precedents, and tobacco industry strategies to block diffusion Tobacco Control 23 1 e2 10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2012-050541 23092884 PMC3725195 · DOI
- Hiilamo H Glantz S 2016 FCTC followed by accelerated implementation of tobacco advertising bans Tobacco Control 10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2016-053007 PMC5274612 27471111 · DOI · Paper page
- Ibrahim JK Glantz SA 2006 Tobacco industry litigation strategies to oppose tobacco control media campaigns Tobacco Control 15 1 50 58 16436406 PMC2563618
- Kaur J Jain DC 2011 Tobacco control policies in India: Implementation and challenges Indian Journal of Public Health 55 3 220 227 22089690
- Lee S Ling PM Glantz SA 2012 The vector of the tobacco epidemic: Tobacco industry practices in low and middle-income countries Cancer Causes & Control 23 Suppl. 1 117 129 10.1007/s10552-012-9914-0 22370696 PMC3332051 · DOI · Paper page
- MacKenzie R Collin J Sriwongcharoen K 2007 Thailand – lighting up a dark market: British American tobacco, sports sponsorship and the circumvention of legislation Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health 61 1 28 33 doi:61/1/28 [pii]10.1136/jech.2005.042432 17183011 PMC2465596 · DOI
- MacKenzie R Collin J Sriwongcharoen K Muggli M 2004 ‘If we can just “stall” new unfriendly legislations, the scoreboard is already in our favour’: Transnational tobacco companies and ingredients disclosure in Thailand Tobacco Control 13 Suppl. II ii79 ii87 15564225 PMC1766166
- Magzamen S Glantz SA 2001 The new battleground: California’s experience with smoke-free bars American Journal of Public Health 91 2 245 252 11211633 PMC1446527
- Mamudu HM Gonzalez M Glantz S 2011 The nature, scope, and development of the global tobacco control epistemic community American Journal of Public Health 101 11 2044 2054 10.2105/AJPH.2011.300303 21940926 PMC3207640 · DOI · Paper page
- Nakkash R Lee K 2008 Smuggling as the ‘key to a combined market’: British American tobacco in Lebanon Tobacco Control 17 5 324 331 10.1136/tc.2008.025254 18818226 PMC2602729 · DOI
- Nixon ML Mahmoud L Glantz SA 2004 Tobacco industry litigation to deter local public health ordinances: The industry usually loses in court Tobacco Control 13 1 65 73 14985600 PMC1747817
- Sanders-Jackson AN Song AV Hiilamo H Glantz SA 2013 Effect of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and voluntary industry health warning labels on passage of mandated cigarette warning labels from 1965 to 2012: Transition probability and event history analyses American Journal of Public Health 103 11 2041 2047 10.2105/AJPH.2013.301324 24028248 PMC3795937 · DOI · Paper page
- Sebrie EM Blanco A Glantz SA 2010 Cigarette labeling policies in Latin America and the Caribbean: Progress and obstacles Salud Pública de México 52 Suppl. 2 S233 S243 doi:S0036-36342010000800019 [pii] 21243194 PMC3090221
- Sebrie EM Glantz SA 2007 “Accommodating” smoke-free policies: Tobacco industry’s courtesy of choice programme in Latin America Tobacco Control 16 5 e6 doi:16/5/e6 [pii]10.1136/tc.2006.018275 17897975 PMC2598557 · DOI
- Sebrie EM Schoj V Glantz SA 2008 Smokefree environments in Latin America: On the road to real change? Prevention and Control 3 1 21 35 10.1016/j.precon.2007.09.001 19578527 PMC2705163 · DOI
- Sieder R Schjolden L Angell A 2005 The judicialization of politics in Latin America New York, NY Palgrave Macmillan
- Steele SL Gilmore AB McKee M Stuckler D 2015 The role of public law-based litigation in tobacco companies’ strategies in high-income, FCTC ratifying countries, 2004–14 Journal of Public Health (Oxf) doi:fdv068 [pii]10.1093/pubmed/fdv068 PMC5072156 26036703 · DOI
- Thomson G Wilson N 2005 Implementation failures in the use of two New Zealand laws to control the tobacco industry: 1989–2005 Australia and New Zealand Health Policy 2 32 32 10.1186/1743-8462-2-32 16354296 PMC1325239 · DOI
- Tienhaara K 2011 Regulatory chill and the threat of arbitration: A view from political science Brown C Miles K Evolution in investment treaty law and arbitration 606 628 Cambridge Cambridge University Press
- Uang R Crosbie E Glantz SA 2017 Smokefree implementation in Colombia: The role of hospitality industry support, nongovernmental organization vigilance, and outside funding Salud Pública de México 59 1 128 136 28562713 PMC5494994
- Uang R Hiilamo H Glantz SA 2016 Accelerated adoption of smoke-free laws after ratification of the world health organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control American Journal of Public Health 106 1 166 171 10.2105/AJPH.2015.302872 26562125 PMC4689638 · DOI · Paper page
- Wipfli H Stillman F Tamplin S da Costa e Silva VL Yach D Samet J 2004 Achieving the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control’s potential by investing in national capacity Tobacco Control 13 433 437 15564631 PMC1747961
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Crosbie, E., Sosa, P., & Glantz, S. A. (2018) · Tobacco control · doi:10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2017-053690 · Cited by 96 · see citing works
Self-citationCrosbie, E., Thomson, G., Freeman, B., & Bialous, S. (2018) · Global Public Health · doi:10.1080/17441692.2018.1443485 · Cited by 46 · see citing works
Self-citationMatthes, B. K., Robertson, L., & Gilmore, A. B. (2020) · BMJ Open · doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2020-044710 · Cited by 32 · see citing works
Weiger, C., Hoe, C., & Cohen, J. E. (2022) · BMJ Open · doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2021-049833 · Cited by 10 · see citing works
- Authors
- Uang, R., Crosbie, E., & Glantz, S. A.
- Affiliations
- University of California, San Francisco (US)
- Corresponding author
- Glantz, Stanton A.
- Venue
- Global Public Health
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2017-08-17
- Volume
- 13
- Issue
- 8
- Pages
- 1050-1064
- ISSN
- 1744-1692 (ISSN-L)
- 1744-1706
- PMC
- PMC5816722
- OpenAlex
- W2745425199
- Cited by
- 51
- References
- 3
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 9 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 1
- FWCI
- 7.40
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Locations
- Global Public Health (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- Funders
- FAMRI William Cahan Endowment Fund
- National Cancer Institute (CA-087472)
- Dr. Glantz’ Truth Initiative Distinguished Professorship
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management › Global Public Health Policies and Epidemiology
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Smoking Behavior and Cessation
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Public Health Policies and Education
- Keywords
- tobacco control legislation, tobacco control policy implementation, transnational networks, tobacco industry opposition, tobacco advertising ban, tobacco litigation, legal capacity building, Colombia
- MeSH terms
- Smoking Prevention, Advertising, Colombia, Health Policy, Humans, International Cooperation, Tobacco Industry, Government Regulation
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
