Latest Publications

“Lost Funds: A study on the tobacco tax revenue gap in selected ASEAN countries” PDF 830kb

This report assesses the magnitude of fiscal shortfalls in four selected ASEAN countries: Cambodia, Indonesia, Myanmar and Vietnam that are missing out on collecting more tobacco tax revenue due to the failure to raise tobacco taxes to the recommended levels, reduce the affordability of smoking, and/or remove complex tax structures. The key findings include: 1.3 million premature deaths could be prevented and additional

USD 4.81 billion in tax revenue would have been collected in Cambodia, Indonesia, Myanmar and Vietnam in the last two years if the governments of these four countries implemented the recommended tax changes

Uang yang hilang: Studi kesenjangan penerimaan cukai tembakau di Indonesia PDF 3.1mb (Bahasa)

This report assesses the magnitude of fiscal shortfalls in Indonesia that is missing out on collecting more tobacco tax revenue due to the failure to raise tobacco taxes to the recommended levels, reduce the affordability of smoking, and/or remove complex tax structures. The key findings include: the tax revenue gap in Indonesia is especially large in 2021, because the government did not increase taxes on the hand-rolled kretek cigarettes in this year and continued with its complicated tax system of 10 tiers.

Tobacco/e-cigarette industry and front groups distort human rights and consumer rights PDF 315kb

Tobacco products and Electronic Smoking Devices (ESDs) are harmful to human and environmental health. Governments are duty-bound to implement appropriately strict regulations to protect citizens from such harmful products. However, the tobacco and ESD industry and its front groups are misleading policymakers and society by twisting consumer and human rights to suit their own commercial agenda without regard for public health.

The report will provide information to tobacco control advocates and policymakers to protect consumers and the public, including our youths, from addiction and other health harms, these tactics by the tobacco and ESD industry to undermine or subvert tobacco control efforts must be exposed and rejected, and effective stringent regulatory policies must be fully implemented.

Whitewashing a Harmful Business: Review of Tobacco Industry’s CSR Activities in ASEAN 2021 PDF 11mb

This report highlights the tactics of the tobacco industry in leveraging corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities as a loophole to lure, exploit, and confuse governments to give in to its interests. The industry has been framing its CSR activities as donations and acts of charity when in truth, these activities are funded by their marketing funds. These activities are done to bring the attention away from the deaths and illness that tobacco products cause and to wrongly paint a picture of the tobacco industry as a benefactor and an ally to achieve sustainable development. The COVID-19 pandemic has served as a smokescreen for the tobacco industry to step in with their activities including donations of medical supplies, personal protective equipment (PPE), and even funding vaccine research and manufacture. The report also notes that the industry has become more tactical in supporting high profile non-government organizations and movements, aiming to give credence and legitimacy to its charitable acts. The report recommends a ban on all CSR activities of the industry and prevent it from conducting any activity concerning youth or those that involve the education system. The report also calls on ASEAN governments to reject grants and partnership with the industry and publicize their official position on interacting with the industry.

SEATCA Tobacco Tax Index 2021 PDF 3.3mb

The world’s first Index on implementation of WHO FCTC Article 6.
In 2021 edition, the index shows that more ASEAN countries pay attention to taxing tobacco products to reduce affordability and developing long-term tax roadmaps. However, the region as a whole made a slow progress in formulating and implementing effective tobacco tax policies.

Tobacco Industry Interference in Tobacco Tax Policies in ASEAN Countries PDF 2.9mb

With an annual global death count of 8 million people (including 1.2 million non-smokers), the dangerous effects of tobacco consumption and exposure are well-known and well-documented. Big tobacco is a deeply profitable industry that makes billions of dollars from consumers, particularly those in low-and-middle-income countries and undermines effective tobacco control policies to protect its profits. This publication exposes and investigates tobacco industry interference in tobacco tax policies at global and regional levels, with survey findings from Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam confirming that tobacco industry interference is a current and significant threat to the development and implementation of effective tobacco tax policies across the region.

Tobacco Industry Interference Index PDF 3.2mb

Implementation of Article 5.3 of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control in Asian Countries, 2020

Tobacco Industry Interference Index PDF 3.2mb

Implementation of Article 5.3 of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control in ASEAN Countries, 2020

Global Tobacco Industry Interference Index 2020 PDF 1.2mb
A global survey on how governments are responding to tobacco industry interference and protecting their public health policies from commercial and vested interests as required under the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control