Sensible regulation of tobacco products benefits society and consumers everywhere. It also benefits our business. With regulation comes stability and predictability. With regulation the rules are clear and applicable to everyone. If compliance with the rules is monitored and demanded, all industry participants are subject to the same standards of conduct and compete on a level playing field.
Regulation also can permit and guide the development and marketing of reduced risk products.
That is why we support reasonable regulation of tobacco products. And why we also support voluntary restrictions that address specific concerns that may exist in a society. Today, around the world, we are working with health authorities, law enforcement agencies, parent and teacher groups and a host of other interested parties to find answers to a variety of tobacco related issues. We are not waiting for a global treaty. We are acting now.