Fight Against Tobacco: Cameroon Struggles Against Persistent Industry Interference

Cameroon’s battle against tobacco industry influence shows signs of stagnation, with the country’s interference score slightly improving from 81 to 76 in the latest Tobacco Industry Interference Index 2025. Despite this minor decrease, the report published on May 26, 2026 in Yaounde by the Cameroonian Coalition for Tobacco Control, C3T, reveals that tobacco companies continue to successfully stall critical public health measures. Such as the implementation of the third round of graphic health warnings on cigarette packaging. 

Stalled Health Measures 
A primary concern highlighted in the report is the lack of progress on graphic health warnings, which are supposed to cover 70% of packaging. Since June 2023, the Ministry of Public Health was expected to take action on the adoption of a new set of health warnings. This delay followed a formal request from the tobacco industry in December 2022 to extend the use of outdated 2021 images, effectively disrupting the mandatory rotation cycle.
 
Deep-seated Structural Influence
The tobacco industry’s influence extends into the very bodies meant to regulate it. The 2025 Index notes that a representative from the local tobacco company, VOCC, currently chairs the technical committee on tobacco standardization at the Agency for Standards and Quality, ANOR. Furthermore, the report indicates that major legislative efforts have been paralyzed for years. A draft national tobacco control law submitted to the Presidency in 2011 has yet to be examined by Parliament.
 
Human, Economic Toll
This policy deadlock comes at a significant cost to the nation. Tobacco use is estimated to cause approximately 4,532 deaths annually in Cameroon. With Non-Communicable Diseases, NCDs, like cancer and diabetes now accounting for 43% of all annual deaths. Economically, the burden is valued at over 85 billion FCFA per year, with tobacco-related expenses often consuming half of a household's food budget. 

Recommendations For Reform
To counter this interference, C3T and its partners are calling for the immediate adoption of a formal Code of Conduct to regulate interactions between public officials and tobacco representatives. The key recommendations include restarting the adoption process for the 2011 draft law. Implementing the 2018 regulations on packaging and labeling without industry-imposed delays. And creating a monitoring mechanism within the Multi-sectoral Tobacco Control Commission to track industry activities.

Stalled Health Measures 
A pri...