Public‑health organisations, including the International Institute of Legislative Affairs (IILA), research bodies and government agencies, have warned that the growth of regional trade may open loopholes for tobacco companies to challenge national health rules and broaden market access.

The concerns were highlighted during the launch of a fact sheet titled “Unmasking Tobacco Industry Interference in Regional Trade,” which outlines how trade arrangements could be exploited.

Stakeholders point to the East African Community (EAC) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as frameworks where divergent tax rates, legislation and regulatory standards may enable tobacco firms to sidestep national controls.

One tactic highlighted is the “One Factory Strategy,” where manufacturers concentrate production in a single country and distribute products across the region using existing trade channels, potentially weakening taxation and other regulatory tools.

The group also flags tobacco‑industry participation in policy‑making, noting that economic arguments about tax revenue, employment and illicit trade are sometimes used to sway government decisions.

Celine Awuor, CEO of the International Institute for Legislative Affairs, reiterated that Article 5.3 of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control obliges governments to protect public‑health policies from industry influence, especially as trade expands.

Stakeholders are urging governments to fully implement Article 5.3 and to close gaps in national tobacco‑control laws that could be exploited in cross‑border legal challenges.

They propose a common regional platform for information sharing, coordinated enforcement and regular dialogue among regulators, researchers and civil‑society groups to reduce regulatory loopholes.

Greater scrutiny of economic submissions from tobacco‑industry representatives, particularly claims about tax revenue and employment, is also being called for to prevent undue influence on policy.

Finally, the group urges stronger safeguards under AfCFTA Rules of Origin to ensure that trade arrangements are not used to undermine tobacco‑control measures, emphasizing that economic integration must not compromise public health.