Tobacco control implications of the first European product liability suit.
OBJECTIVE
To examine tobacco control implication of the first European product liability suit in Finland.


METHODS
Systematic search of internal tobacco industry documents available on the internet and at the British American Tobacco Guildford Depository.


RESULTS
Despite legal loss, the litigation contributed to subsequent tobacco control legislation in Finland. The proceedings revealed that the industry had concealed the health hazards of its products and, despite indisputable evidence, continued to deny them. The positions taken by the industry rocked its reliability as a social actor and thus weakened its chances of influencing tobacco policy. Despite fierce opposition from the tobacco industry, tobacco products were included in the product liability legislation, tobacco was entered on the Finnish list of carcinogens, and an extensive Tobacco Act was passed in Parliament.


CONCLUSIONS
Tobacco litigation might not stand alone as a tool for public health policymaking but it may well stimulate national debate over the role of smoking in society and influence the policy agenda.
Hiilamo
H T
HT
Church Council/Diaconia and Social Responsibility, Satamakatu 11, 00161 Helsinki, Finland. heikki.hiilamo@evl.fi
D001294:Attitude to Health; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000009:adverse effects; D016265:Conflict of Interest / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D003257:Consumer Product Safety / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D005060:Europe; D005387:Finland; D006291:Health Policy / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D006801:Humans; D016365:Liability, Legal; D011634:Public Health / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D019460:Tobacco Industry / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*
D002273:Carcinogens
Am J Public Health. 2001 Sep;91(9):1419-23
11527774
Lakartidningen. 2002 Jun 13;99(24):2756-62
12101604
JAMA. 2002 Aug 14;288(6):738-44
12169078
Tob Control. 2003 Dec;12(4):414-23
14660780
J Health Polit Policy Law. 1999 Aug;24(4):769-804
10503158
Tob Control. 2000 Jun;9(2):242-8
10841866
Am J Public Health. 2001 Nov;91(11):1749-57
11684593
Lancet. 2002 Apr 13;359(9314):1323-30
11965294
Tob Control. 2002 Jun;11(2):94-104
12034999