Code of Practice on Tobacco Industry Funding to Universities

Why is tobacco industry funding a special case?

Tobacco causes over a quarter of all cancer deaths in the UK. Nine in ten cases of all lung cancers are due to tobacco and there currently exists no effective treatment for the vast majority of cases. In total, over 100,000 deaths per annum in the UK are attributable to tobacco.1

Tobacco is the only consumer product which kills a high proportion of its users when used exactly as intended by the manufacturers. In total, half of all smokers will die from a tobacco-related disease. Half of these will die in middle-age, with a loss of 15-20 years of an individual's life. 2

The tobacco industry has been aware of the serious health consequences of its product for decades, yet has sought to conceal the evidence from its customers. It has also continued to promote its products aggressively, especially to women, the young, the poor and to other new markets in low income countries. 3

The tobacco industry has behaved reprehensibly in numerous other ways, such as:

• It has sought to influence universities which are in receipt of its funding. 4
• It has bought scientists, infiltrated academic institutions and funded misleading research. 5
• It is seeking to reinvent itself as "socially responsible", for example, by funding ineffective youth "anti-smoking" campaigns while opposing effective prevention measures. 6

Why is Cancer Research UK so concerned?

In pursuit of its mission to conquer cancer through world-class research, Cancer Research UK wishes to promote the highest standards in scientific and medical research, and to address major issues in relation to public health. Therefore, as tobacco causes immense danger to health and life, Cancer Research UK wishes to do everything it can to avoid links, whether direct or indirect, with the tobacco industry, and to oppose tobacco promotion and use in all its forms.

In respect of its relationship with universities, Cancer Research UK believes there are two main areas where a university's links with the tobacco industry may impact on its relationship with the charity, as set out in the sections below.

Cancer Research UK firmly supports the principles set out in the Joint Protocol of Cancer Research UK and Universities UK (2004).

While recognising that certain decisions rest with individual universities, Cancer Research UK feels it has a right and duty to comment in certain situations.

All universities are asked to consider the great harm to public health caused by tobacco, and the damage to their reputation if they accept tobacco industry funds. If a university accepts donations from the tobacco industry, Cancer Research UK considers it has a duty to publicly criticise such funding.

Furthermore, Cancer Research UK applauds those universities which already have a policy not to accept such funds and encourages other universities to follow their lead.

Cancer Research UK believes that no form of association with the tobacco industry is acceptable. Therefore, nothing in this Code shall be taken to imply that Cancer Research UK supports or approves the use of tobacco industry funding for research or any other activities.

Cancer Research UK has a legitimate right to protect its own research funding where there is likely to be close proximity of its funding to tobacco industry funds.

Cancer Research UK will therefore not provide financial support where those who are, or would be, supported by Cancer Research UK funds are working in such proximity to others supported by tobacco industry funding that there is any possibility or likelihood that facilities, equipment or other resources will be shared. The conditions of this Code, at a minimum, apply at research team level.

Where Cancer Research UK is considering major new funding, association of the university with the tobacco industry will be a key criterion.

A tobacco company is defined for the purposes of this policy as one that:

• Derives over 5% of revenues from manufacturing tobacco products;
• Derives 15%+ of revenues from the manufacture of products necessary for the production of tobacco products;
• Derives 15% of revenues from the sale of tobacco products (and has 30 or more staff);
• Owns a tobacco company (the company owns 50% or more of a tobacco company);
• Is more than 50% owned by a company with tobacco involvement.

The following do not constitute tobacco industry funding for the purposes of this Code:

• legacies from tobacco industry investments (provided these are sold on immediately)
• funding from a trust or foundation no longer having any connection with the tobacco industry even though it may bear a name that (for historical reasons) has tobacco industry associations.

Cancer Research UK will have the final decision in any dispute. Cancer Research UK will keep this code of practice under review.

Cancer Research UK will keep this policy under review.

View a printable version of this policy:

• Code of Practice on Tobacco Industry Funding to Universities (29KB)