Hold the tobacco industry to account

Liability can help governments hold the tobacco industry responsible for harms and costs caused by its products and conduct.

Tobacco Industry ActorsCompanies, affiliates and lobbyists

Start by identifying the actors behind tobacco-industry interests

Companies, affiliates, lobbyists, and other actors may shape markets, public narratives and policy environments.

Identify tobacco industry actors

What this area covers

Administrative & non-judicial liability, and international cooperation Litigation, court cases & judgments External site

Harms costs and conduct at issue

Tobacco products and industry conduct generate health, economic, environmental, social, and governance harms and costs.

Healthcare and economic costs

Public systems absorb direct and indirect costs linked to tobacco use.

Youth, nicotine, mental health, and novel products

Nicotine dependence and evolving products create new challenges for health and regulation.

Environment, waste, and livelihoods

Production and consumption generate environmental costs across supply chains and communities.

Human rights and labor harms

Liability can intersect with rights, labor conditions, and harms within tobacco supply chains.

Tax avoidance, evasion, and illicit trade

Financial and trade practices can undermine public revenue and tobacco-control objectives.

Industry interference, misconduct, and deception

Policy influence and misleading claims can delay or weaken effective public-health action.

Article 19 pathways

Article 19 calls on Parties to consider legislative action or promote existing laws to deal with criminal and civil liability, including compensation where appropriate.

Later COP decisions and Expert Group work have advanced administrative and other non-judicial approaches to implementation.

Judicial

Through courts and judicial proceedings

Civil and criminal liability through courts and judicial proceedings. Where feasible, litigation remains an important route.

Explore judicial pathways External site Non-judicial

Beyond traditional court proceedings

Administrative and other non-judicial approaches available under domestic law, including measures to determine liability, impose sanctions, provide redress or recover costs.

Explore non-judicial pathways

Three questions guide implementation

What does the national system already provide, how can administrative liability operate, and how can tobacco-related costs be recovered?

01 / Self-assessment

Identify what the national system already provides

Review existing legal authority, institutions, sanctions, compensation arrangements, and cost-recovery tools, then identify the gaps.

Explore details

Map legal mandates, responsible institutions, available sanctions, compensation arrangements, financial measures, and implementation gaps.

02 / Administrative liability

How can liability operate beyond courts?

Where domestic law permits, competent authorities or tribunals may determine liability, impose administrative sanctions and provide or facilitate remedies.

Explore details

Consider administrative orders, penalties, licensing consequences, corrective measures, and appeal safeguards.

03 / Cost recovery

How can governments recover attributable costs?

Estimate attributable costs, identify the legal basis for recovery and examine available mechanisms, including levies, fees, and surcharges where legally available.

Explore details

Explore cost recovery methods, cost calculators, and evidence that puts industry claims in context.