The 13th World Conference on Tobacco OR Health

Objective: To assess the participation and the nature of TABINFO 2005 (14 - 16 Nov. 2005) particularly those strategies that could circumvent the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).

Methods: Content analysis is used to evaluate TABINFO 2005, comparing it to past and future tobacco expositions, the products offered at the event and the implications they have on FCTC.

Results: It was observed that out of the four tobacco expositions jointly organized by Dr Kater Marketing, Tobacco Journal International, and Tobacco Reporter, TABINFO 2005 has the lowest number of visitors and there was a significant drop in exhibitors as compared to the previous exposition held in Barcelona.

The expo attracted 170 categories of supporting industries that included research consultation service, printing industry sectors, adhesive industry, paper and film converting industry, machinery and spare parts suppliers and tobacco leaf suppliers. Some of the products identified at the expo that could have implications on the FCTC include:

a) A specialized glow-in-dark or UV ink to render cigarette packs luminous when such packs are taken into dim places such as discos and nightclubs.

b) Cigarette filters that are claimed to reduce specific chemicals in tobacco smoke, giving the impression that the cigarette is safer.

Other examples will be given during the presentation.