http://www.jstc.or.jp/E-mail desk@nosmoke55.jp〒162-0063 東京都新宿区市谷薬王寺町 30-5-201
Tel 03-5360-8233 FAX 03-5360-6736

Head of local governments:

6 July 2020

Financial affairs/taxation (donation) chief

Donations from Japan Tobacco Inc. (JT)Manabu Sakuta,

Chairperson,

Japan Society for Tobacco Control,General incorporated

Recently, with the spread nationwide of "novel coronavirus", I have come into
contact with news reports of municipalities receiving donations from Japan Tobacco,Inc. (JT) under the names of "support for parents of children with the coronavirus
disease" and "medical support". (See "Media" reference)

However, local governments receiving donations from the tobacco industry forcorporate social responsibility (CSR) violates articles 5(3) and 13 (FCTC) of theFramework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), ratified by Japan in 2005.

This violation was also problem after the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami,
when the tobacco industry donated large sums to the Japanese Red Cross Society andthe Nippon Foundation. But the violation of the Framework Convention on Tobacco
Control became an international issue, and funds were quickly returned. Philip Morrisand others also donated to the Red Cross Museum, an action which was reported byReuters, and then the donation was returned by the International Federation of Red
Crescent Societies.

Please be careful that municipal governments not accept donations from JT, in
contravention of international treaties.
Conclusion
References"Framework Convention on Tobacco Control" (FCTC)
Article 5 paragraph 3“4.10 Parties should not allow any official or employee of government or of any
semi/quasi-governmental body to accept payments, gifts or services, monetary or inkind, from the tobacco industry.”

Article 13 “26. Such donations have the purpose of directly or indirectly promoting andencouraging tobacco products and tobacco use. Because of these effects or thepotential for them to occur, they should be banned comprehensively.”(FCTC article 5 clause 3 guidelines)

6.4

Parties should not allow acceptance by any branch of government or the public

sector of political, social, financial, educational, community or other contributions fromthe tobacco industry or from those working to further its interests, except forcompensations due to legal settlements or mandated by law or legally binding andenforceable agreements.
https://www.mhlw.go.jp/topics/tobacco/dl/fctc_5-3_guideline_120506.pdf(FCTC Article 13 Guidelines)
26.Some tobacco companies make financial or in-kind contributions to organizations,such as community, health, welfare or environmental organizations, either directly orthrough other entities. Such contributions fall within the definition of tobacco
sponsorship in Article 1(g) of the Convention and should be prohibited as part of acomprehensive ban, because the aim, effect or likely effect of such a contribution is topromote a tobacco product or tobacco use either directly or indirectly.

27.Tobacco companies may also seek to engage in “socially responsible” businesspractices (such as good employee–employer relations or environmental stewardship),which do not involve contributions to other parties. Promotion to the public of suchotherwise commendable activities should be prohibited, as their aim, effect or likely
effect is to promote a tobacco product or tobacco use either directly or indirectly.

Source: World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (MOFAwebsite)
https://www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/gaiko/who/fctc.html(News reports)
Donated by JT: 300,000 yen to the Matsuyama City Consultation Center to support
families with children, 1 July
https://www.ehime-np.co.jp/article/news202007010081

In support medical workers, JT donated to Okinawa prefecture, 28 June
https://www.qab.co.jp/news/20200628127241.html

The Japanese tobacco industry donated 1 million yen to Yamanashi Prefecture tosupport medical workers responding to the novel coronavirus, 24 June
https://www.msn.com/jajp/news/national/%E6%96%B0%E5%9E%8B%E3%82%B3%E3%83%AD%E3%83%8A%E
3%81%AB%E5%AF%BE%E5%BF%9C%E3%81%99%E3%82%8B%E5%8C%BB%E7%99%82%E5%BE%93%E4%BA%8B%E8%80%85%E6%94%AF%E6%8F%B4%E3%81%AB%E5%B
D%B9%E7%AB%8B%E3%81%A6%E3%81%A6-%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E3%81%9F%
E3%81%B0%E3%81%93%E7%94%A3%E6%A5%AD%E3%81%8C%EF%BC%91%EF%BC%
90%EF%BC%90%E4%B8%87%E5%86%86%E5%AF%84%E4%BB%98/ar-BB15UcDs

Ceremony to present a list of donators to Kagawa (prefecture) branch of Japan
Tobacco Inc., 24 June
https://www.pref.kagawa.lg.jp/content/dir1/dir1_6/dir1_6_2/wd0bty200623140218.sht
ml

JT donates to Kumamoto prefecture for novel coronavirus measures (Kumamoto)https://www.fnn.jp/articles/-/55621"For Corona countermeasures" 500,000 yen donated to Fukuyama city by the JT branch
office, 23 June
https://www.chugoku-np.co.jp/local/news/article.php?comment_id=655149&comment_sub_id=0&category_id=118

Japan Tobacco Inc., China branch Tottori (prefecture) branch store, donation ceremony
for the purposes of the novel coronavirus infections, 19 June
http://db.pref.tottori.jp/pressrelease.nsf/webview/AE32FD80CB2015D14925858C0023
88A5?OpenDocument

Japan Tobacco Industry (JT) donates to Kagoshima prefecture by utilizing the businesstax contribution for local governments, 19 June
https://kifu.rcf311.com/news/233/

Fukuoka city received a donation from Japan Tobacco Inc. to support novel coronavirus
countermeasures, 19 June
https://www.city.fukuoka.lg.jp/shimin/koeki/life/asuminnyumefando/npohojyokinbosy
u2020_3_2.html

1 million yen donation from the Japanese tobacco industry to support coronavirus
countermeasures [Yamaguchi prefecture], 18 June
https://www.minato-yamaguchi.co.jp/yama/e-yama/articles/11486

Miyazaki News UMK｜UMK TV Miyazaki www.umk.co.jp ›news
2020/06/10 In addition, the Japan Tobacco Inc. Miyazaki branch donated 1 million yen,saying "I want the affected citizens to benefit." In response, Governor Kono said, "I
would like to sincerely thank you for your valuable donation." While the novel
coronavirus measures cost a lot of money, in May the prefecture...

Donation ceremony from Japan Tobacco Inc. (Tokushima Prefecture), 8 June
https://www.pref.tokushima.lg.jp/ippannokata/kurashi/chihososei/5037846

Regarding the donation from Japan Tobacco Inc. for the novel type of coronavirus
infection countermeasures to support medical workers (Tochigi prefecture), 8 June
http://www.pref.tochigi.lg.jp/f01/houdou/houdou/20200610jtkihukinn.html

JT donates 1 million yen to Shimane Prefecture｜NNN News-NTV
NEWS24www.news24.jp ›nnn› news8759889
2020/05/30-JT and others in the Japanese tobacco industry presented a gift of 1
million yen to Shimane prefecture as a countermeasure against the costs of the novelcoronavirus. As a contribution to society, JT is donating money to support the novel
coronavirus countermeasures throughout the country. On the 29th, Mr. Shoichi Mizuno
of JT Matsue branch visited the Shimane prefectural office and...
---------------------------------------------------------------Reference: JT Group's local community initiatives in response to the spread of novel
coronavirus infection
https://www.jti.co.jp/csr/contribution/covid19_support/index.html