JTI's Cooperation With International Agencies

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JTI believes cooperation is the way to go because neither industry nor Governments can solve this problem on their own. JTI has always offered its full cooperation to government agencies in the battle against smuggling, and participated in a number of public and industry programs aimed at preventing all types of contraband. We work on a technical level and an executive level with government authorities to fight contraband. The World Customs Organization - with which JTI already cooperates - issued a call for a strengthened 'partnership with trade' to attack the related problem of counterfeit traffic in many products, which it said had grown to the level of $450 Billion annually.

Alliance Against Contraband

Through its contribution to the Alliance Against Contraband "think tank", JTI helped develop research on the multifaceted contraband issue. The studies, written by renowned experts in the field, were shared with law enforcement agencies in the countries most affected by contraband, such as Spain and Italy in Europe.

QBPC Anti-Counterfeit

The Quality Brands Protection Committee (QBPC) includes 83 major international companies including JTI. The Committee contributes to the fight against counterfeit and recently held a conference in Shanghai on counterfeit and trademark infringement issues in China.

World Customs Organization IPR Strategic group

In 2002, JTI joined the World Customs Organization's Intellectual Property Rights' (IPR) strategic group. In this capacity, JTI contributes to the formulation of model anti-counterfeit legislation. The group helps countries in drafting or revising their existing Customs legislation based on WTO's TRIPS agreement. As an essential first step in the fight against contraband, countries need to adopt good effective legislation. JTI also contributes to training courses and seminars for Customs officers organized by IPR.

EU regulation on tracing excisable goods' shipments

On January 21, 2003, the Council of European Economy and Finance Ministers adopted, without discussion, its common position for the Member States to commit themselves to computerizing the documents that accompany products subject to excise duty (alcohol, tobacco and mineral oil products) moving between traders inside the Community system.
In co-operation with European customs bodies, JTI supported and took an active part in the development of this project which establishes a fully electronic system of tracing intra-EU excisable goods.