The 13th World Conference on Tobacco OR Health

Objective: 1) To demonstrate the importance of having clear organisational policies to protect against tobacco industry links; 2) To enable participants to evaluate their organisations' positions in relation to such links; 3) To enable participants to identify pragmatic policies that their organisation could adopt.

Methods: Cancer Research UK is the world's leading society dedicated to research on the causes, treatment and prevention of cancer. It was formed in 2002 by the merger of two smaller cancer societies.

The society has hundreds of staff with many job functions. In 2003, it developed guidance to ensure that activities across the organisation avoided links (direct and indirect) with the tobacco industry.

The policy covers our stance in relation to: a) what constitutes a tobacco company or subsidiary company; b) acceptance of donations/investments; c) use of major contractors/agencies; d) the smoking status of fundraising events.

Since 2003, the policy has continually been developed as new issues emerge. The society has, since 1998, also refused to fund those in receipt of tobacco industry funds, and other international organisations have adopted similar policies.

A review was undertaken of how the policy was initially developed and of later changes made. Desk research and interviews with internal and external stakeholders were conducted.

Results: The background and content of the policy and will be presented, covering some of the pragmatic limitations that were considered in its initial development. It will then look at what lessons have been learnt to date and will highlight where positions have been strengthened/modified.