Section 25: Limitation on interactions between government and the tobacco industry

(1)
Interactions between government and the tobacco industry shall be conducted in a transparent manner.
(2)
where an interaction between government and the tobacco industry is necessary for effective regulation, and whenever there is an interaction of any kind or contact between the government and the tobacco industry, regardless of which party initiates it, the appropriate government agency shall ensure transparency of the interaction or the contact.
(3)
Transparency shall require at a minimum-
(a)
conducting any interaction between the government and the tobacco industry in public, such as through public hearings, unless doing so would jeopardize effective regulation or would not be legally possible, as in the case of inspections or investigations or litigation interactions;
(b)
minutes or other documentation of all interactions, whether face-to-face or through some other means of communication, and contacts that provide sufficient detail to identify, at a minimum-
(i) the pafties involved,
(ii) matters discussed or considered,
(iii) any decisions taken,
(iv) any foIlow-up activity planned or anticipated,
(v) the date, location and method of the interaction or contact, and
(vi) any other detail as may be prescribed in the regulations or policies;
(c)
forwarding all documentation to the Ministry within not more than 15 days and making all records of, and documents related to, interactions, communications, and contacts readily accessible to the public, unless the public disclosure would not be legally possible;
provided that timeliness of public accessibility shall be subject to ensuring effective regulation, such as in the case of ongoing investigations; and
(d)
any other transparency measure as may be prescribed in the regulations or policies.
(4)
Any necessary interaction with the tobacco industry shall be carried out in a manner that avoids the creation of any perception of an unhealthy partnership or collaboration and, in the event such a perception is created, the government shall act promptly to correct it.