Global Tobacco Industry Interference Index 2025

Switzerland Still the Worst in Europe

Switzerland is and remains a haven for the tobacco lobby: in the new global tobacco lobby influence index, it once again ranks second to last out of 100 countries – only one with an even worse score. The report demonstrates the extent to which the tobacco industry continues to exert a strong influence on politics in our country.

The Global Tobacco Industry Interference Index (GTI) measures the degree of influence exerted by the tobacco and nicotine industry on public authorities worldwide, particularly through lobbying, political donations, and partnerships with governments and parliaments. With a score of 96 out of 100 (a high score indicates significant interference), Switzerland ranks 99th out of the 100 countries studied. Since the previous report, it has fallen 10 places in the rankings, as the 2025 index covers more countries. Among the participating European countries, Switzerland has the worst score.

GGTC

Switzerland is once again dead last in Europe

Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, speaker at a forum sponsored by JTI

The Lucerne Dialogue, an initiative that organises economic conferences and counts Japan Tobacco International (JTI) among its "premium members", is a recent example of the persistent influence exerted by the tobacco industry. Its official partners include numerous state actors, including the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) and several cantons. Particularly controversial: Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis (PLR), head of the FDFA, was among the speakers of the "European Economic Forum 2025". Although the new law on tobacco products (in force since October 2024) expressly prohibits activities organised by the Confederation from being sponsored by the tobacco industry, such partnerships continue to exist under the cover of "corporate social responsibility" (CSR). This example illustrates in an exemplary way how much the application of legal provisions leaves to be desired and how closely public institutions remain linked to the tobacco industry.

Philip Morris finances election campaigns for the UDC and the PLR

The UDC and the PLR each received a gift of CHF 35,000 from Philip Morris International (PMI) in the context of the 2023 federal elections. In doing so, the world's largest multinational tobacco company supports political forces that systematically fight against strengthening tobacco control measures. This practice perfectly illustrates the methods used by the tobacco industry to defend its interests through donations to political parties and political alliances. Almost no other European country still legally permits this type of influence, a direct consequence of the Swiss non-ratification of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).

Thirty parliamentarians have links to the tobacco industry – an influence at the heart of the legislative process

The GTI report also mentions the existence of a lobbying network with extensive reach within the Federal Palace: 30 membres of the Federal Parliament maintain direct or indirection links with the tobacco industry – several of whom sit on the two main parliamentary committees responsible for health and the economy (namely the Social Security and Health Committee and the Economic Affairs and Taxation Committee.

This structural proximity between politics and the tobacco industry weakens any effective policy on health and youth protection. The tobacco industry continues to exert considerable influence on debates and legislative processes in the field of public health policy. Particularly troubling: some of these parliamentarians have actively contributed to weakening the law on tobacco products, thus going against the popular referendum on the "Children without Tobacco" initiative.

“The tobacco industry has become entrenched in the political system. Without clear limits, greater transparency, and ratification of the WHO Framework Convention, Switzerland will continue to be guided by the interests of multinational corporations and not by the protection of the population.”

Laurence Fehlmann Rielle, President of the Swiss Association for Tobacco Control, National Councillor (Socialist Party)

Switzerland must act at long last

The Swiss Association for Tobacco Control thus demands:

Immediate ratification of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).
The prohibition of any cooperation between Swiss authorities and political leaders and the tobacco and nicotine industry.
Mandatory transparency rules for political mandates, meetings, and donations.