How big firms 'stubbed out' safer smokes.
By Sarah Hills
The Metro, UK - 8 October, 2004.
TOBACCO chiefs struck a 'gentleman's agreement' not to make safer cigarettes, a court heard yesterday.
William Farone, a former scientist at tobacco giant Philip Morris, claimed companies shelved safer products rather than admit existing brands were harmful. He told a court in Washington that manufacturers abided by a 'decades-old' agreement not to compete over whose products were least hazardous.
Mr Farone, who was fired by Philip Morris 20 years ago, said firms researched 'reduced risk' products to guard against rivals breaking the agreement or government orders to improve cigarettes. 'All our research was for defensive reasons,' Mr Farone claimed. He agreed there was no such thing as a safe cigarette but added: 'You can certainly make it safer to a very large extent.' The former scientist was giving evidence in a case brought by the US government against seven major cigarette makers and two tobacco lobby groups.
Government lawyers accuse them of conspiring to deceive the public for five decades about the dangers of smoking and are seeking £157billion compensation. Mr Farone later admitted that tobacco companies had lowered nicotine and tar levels in cigarettes over the years despite the alleged agreement.
Philip Morris lawyer Dan Webb told the court how Mr Farone was sacked from his position as director of applied research at the company after a row over promotion.
He has since testified in about two dozen other trials against the industry.