Background:
The tobacco industry uses various tactics to prevent and delay regulation. The Tobacco Industry Interference Index is a report on how countries are implementing the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) Article 5.3 guidelines. Art. 5.3 and its guidelines provide governments with ways to protect their policymaking against tobacco industry interference.

Objectives:
The objective of the Index is to expose tobacco industry interference in policymaking in countries and to give recommendations on how governments can improve their safeguards against the industry.

Methods:
In-country researchers fill in a questionnaire with 20 questions based on Art. 5.3 Guidelines. A scoring system is applied to make an assessment.

Results:
Country reports are used for public awareness raising and advocacy within each country. A European report presents case stories from countries. The scores of each country are compared with other countries to develop a ranking.

Conclusions:
Progress of the implementation of Art. 5.3 varies widely around the globe and in Europe. More awareness raising and exchange about best practice is necessary.

Symposia Presentations:

1. European Regional Report: Overview and examples from the European region (speaker: Laura Graen);
2. The EU Tobacco Industry Interference Index (speaker: Irina Kubinschi);
3. One of the worst ranked countries in Europe (speaker: tba);
4. One of the best ranked countries in Europe (speaker: tba).