2021 was a victorious year – a year of important achievements and changes in the protection of the health of Ukrainians.
Due to the persistent advocacy campaign of the NGO Advocacy Center “Life” team and partners, in 2021 Ukraine achieved the adoption of a comprehensive anti-tobacco legislation, which has not undergone systemic changes since 2012. The Comprehensive Law No. 1978-IX, supported by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, introduced progressive standards to the health protection of citizens from the harm of tobacco and nicotine. Advertising of electronic smoking devices has been eliminated, public spaces and workplaces are 100% exempt from any secondary tobacco and nicotine emissions, and new effective medical warnings have been introduced.
In addition, due to the effective cooperation of the NGO Advocacy Center “Life” and parliamentarians, Ukraine has achieved impressive success in the policy of excise taxation of tobacco products: our proposed system of harmonization of the excise tax on heated tobacco products increased revenues to the State Budget by 6 times – from UAH 1.7 billion to UAH 10.2 billion.
The policy introduced by Ukraine has become a recognized example of WHO and the international community. More importantly, the price affordability of narcotic tobacco products has declined, especially for children and young people.
2021 could prove: creating such conditions so that future generations of Ukrainians do not start smoking is more than realistic!
We have no less ambitious plans for 2022. First of all, we need to support and implement the new legislation so that all changes proclaimed by the new anti-tobacco law are implemented in good faith. And we undoubtedly should be prepared for new challenges that will somehow accompany us on the way to a healthy future!
Dmytro Kupyra Executive Director of the NGO Advocacy Center “Life”
Mission
Improve people’s well-being, safety and potential by implementing effective civic representation, influencing legislation and policy, primarily in the field of public health.
Vision
The duration and quality of life in Ukraine are growing. The authorities take into account the interests of public health when making any political decisions. The right of everyone to health and personal development is protected by the state at the highest level.
Success and achievements of the NGO Advocacy Center “Life” team in 2021
1
Comprehensive antitobacco Law 1978-ІХ was adopted
On December 16, 2021, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted a comprehensive anti-tobacco Draft Law No. 4358 (Law 1978-IX) aimed at protecting children and teenagers from being involved in the use of any type of tobacco and nicotine. As a public leader in tobacco control, the “Life” team has accumulated public support and focused considerable efforts on achieving this result.
The provisions of the adopted anti-tobacco Law 1978-IX comply with the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and implement the EU Integration Directive 2014/40/EU in the legislation, which brought Ukraine closer to high standards of protecting citizens’ health.
Key provisions of the adopted Law:
ban on advertising of e-devices for smoking
100% exemption from tobacco and nicotine emissions in workplaces and public spaces. Ban on the use of heated tobacco products in prohibited places along with cigarettes
introduction of placing medical warnings on e-cigarettes and increase of medical warnings on cigarette packs to 65%
ban on the sale of cigarettes, tobacco for roll-ups, liquids for e-cigarettes with flavourings
2
The price affordability of tobacco products and e-cigarettes, primarily for children and young people, has been reduced.
The NGO Advocacy Center “Life” team defended the increase in excise taxes on tobacco products and the introduction of an excise tax on liquids for e-cigarettes, which was implemented by the adoption of Law 466-IX, according to the provisions of which starting from January 1, 2021:
- excise tax on liquids for electronic cigarettes has been introduced for the first time;
- in 2021, the excise tax on cigarillos and heated tobacco products was harmonized to the level of cigarettes and reached more than UAH 29 per pack of 20 pcs.
3
Revenues to the State Budget from excise taxes on tobacco products have been increased, while cigarette consumption is decreasing.
- In 2021, the total excise duties to the State Budget from excise taxes on tobacco products increased by 16% and reached UAH 63.5 billion, which is UAH 8.8 billion more than in 2020, while the number of cigarettes sold decreased by 9 billion units.
- Due to the harmonization of the excise tax on heated tobacco products (HTP) to the level of cigarettes, excise duties on HTPs increased by 6 times – from UAH 1.7 billion in 2020 to UAH 10.2 billion in 2021.
- The NGO Advocacy Center “Life” team managed to concentrate public support to withstand a number of attacks by the tobacco industry, which sought to create tax benefits for individual tobacco products and reduce excise duties on HTPs by 30%, which would result in the loss of over UAH 3 billion by the State Budget and increase the price affordability of tobacco products for children and young people.
4
Ukraine has reached the highest level of implementation of the “anti-tobacco information campaigns” strategy according to the WHO Report on the Global Tobacco Epidemic, published in 2021. This Report evaluated communication activities within the period form 2018 to 2020.
It was during this period that the NGO Advocacy Center “Life” together with the Public Health Centre of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine conducted two National Information anti-tobacco campaigns “Tobacco smoke is an invisible killer” and “There is no safe smoking”.
5
The Department of Public Communications of the Kyiv City State Administration recognized the information campaign “Quit Smoking Now” as one of the winners of the contest of successful practices of interaction between the government and society in solving local issues “TOP-100” in 2021.
6
Ukraine has become the third country in the world to implement the WHO pilot project “Schools without Nicotine and Tobacco”. The goal is to test the WHO Manual in order to spread positive experience in Ukraine and around the world.
Results of survey conducted in schools at the beginning of the pilot project and after two months of information campaign: positive impact on awareness of schoolchildren and school staff about the risks of using nicotine and tobacco products.
7
The “Life” team exposed the tobacco industry’s tactics [1, 2] to promote the sale of tobacco products and electronic smoking devices to minors.
Due to the publicity, electronics stores and logistics companies have tightened internal regulations and stopped issuing (selling) tobacco products, heated tobacco devices, and e-cigarettes to individuals who cannot confirm their age.
8
The “Life” team implemented the Global Tobacco Industry Interference Index in Ukraine. In 2021, Ukraine improved its position by 4 points in the rating, which shows the positive dynamics in reducing the level of interference of the tobacco industry with the formation and implementation of state policy to protect the population from tobacco harm.
9
In partnership with Internews-Ukraine, the Media Fellowship Grant Program on countering tobacco propaganda was held, with three grant scholarships being awarded to cover the problem of tobacco use and the need for legislative changes in tobacco control in Ukraine.
10
The Advocacy Center “Life” team became a partner of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Committee on Health of the Nation, Medical Care and Health Insurance and the World Health Organization representative office in holding a round table on the occasion of the 15th anniversary of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control in Ukraine (WHO FCTC).
12
The “Life” team was the first in Ukraine to conduct an information campaign to eliminate trans fats from food products, due to which Ukrainians became more aware of the dangers of trans fats and the products containing them. In addition, a survey of citizens on awareness of trans fats was conducted for the first time.
13
Media Health Talks – meetings and discussions of representatives of the media and civil society to ensure high-quality presentation and coverage of public health issues and preserve the health of Ukrainians – has been launched.
Results of work in figures
Information campaign on the restriction of trans fats in food products in Ukraine
(December 2021)
!
Harm of trans fats in food products to health was the issue raised by us for the first time in Ukraine.
campaign covered
million people
views of PHC video on YouTube
Матеріали
unique publications
for social networks
releases of the video
Do a test - stop the COVID-19 pandemic
(February-April 2021)
campaign coverage
million people
views of video on YouTube
Video broadcast
releases
on 7 national TV channels
releases
on 37 regional TV channels
Audio broadcast
releases
on 5 national radio stations
releases
on 7 regional radio stations
audio
animated video
layouts for posts on social networks
unique publications for social networks
layouts for outdoor advertising
outdoor advertising campaign
advertising spacesin Kyiv
Quit smoking now
May - August 2021
campaign coverage
million people
views of video on YouTube
Video broadcast
releases
on 13 national TV channels
releases
on 33 regional TV channels
releases
on railway station screens
releases
on screens in Kyiv metro cars
audio broadcast
releases
on 3 national radio stations
releases
on 9 regional radio stations
audio
videos
podcasts
unique publications for social networks
layouts for outdoor advertising
package of stickers for Telegram
outdoor advertising campaign
advertising spaces
in Kyiv
advertising spaces
in Dnipro
There is no safe smoking - support Draft Law 4358
campaign coverage
million people
views of video on YouTube
Video broadcast
releases
on 9 national TV channels
releases
on 9 regionalTV channels
releases
on Intercity train screens
video was adapted
information articles
unique publications for social networks
layouts for outdoor advertising
outdoor advertising campaign
advertising spaces in Kyiv
Media
OUR ANALYTICS
Research and analytical materials
The third international study “Global Tobacco Industry Interference Index”
Quantitative research before and after the information campaign “There is no safe smoking”
A unique survey in Ukraine “Opinions and Views of the Population of Ukraine regarding Trans Fats”
Evaluation of the effectiveness of a pilot project to approve WHO recommendations on schools without nicotine and tobacco
Report on the results of qualitative study “Concept Testing Results for Advertising Campaign”
Topline report “Concept Testing Results”
Infographics
Our videos
Campaign of Ambassadors of Tobacco Change
ALL-UKRAINIAN PARTNERSHIP NETWORK
The NGO Advocacy Center “Life” has developed cooperation with representative offices of civil society, state and municipal institutions in 21 regions of Ukraine. А list of regions where we are active
GRATITUDE TO THE PARTNERS OF THE ADVOCACY CENTER “LIFE” FOR EFFECTIVE AND FRUITFUL COOPERATION
