Key Points
- The European Ombudswoman formally opened Case 1036/2026/AML on August 18, 2026.
- The inquiry examines how DG TRADE handles interactions with the tobacco industry, including their necessity and transparency.
- The complainant alleges the contacts may conflict with EU obligations under the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, but no finding has yet been made.
- The Ombudswoman has requested access to Commission documents concerning interactions with the tobacco industry.
- In 2023, the Ombudsman found maladministration in the Commission’s handling of transparency and necessity assessments for meetings with tobacco lobbyists.
2Firsts
August 24, 2026
European Ombudswoman Teresa Anjinho has opened an inquiry into how the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Trade (DG TRADE) handles interactions with the tobacco industry, IEU Monitoring reported on August 20, 2026.
The European Ombudsman’s Office said the case, numbered 1036/2026/AML, was formally opened on August 18. As a first step, the Ombudswoman has asked to inspect Commission documents concerning its interactions with the tobacco industry.
The inquiry remains ongoing and no finding has been made that DG TRADE engaged in maladministration or breached applicable obligations.
Complaint Questions Necessity and Transparency of Tobacco Contacts
The inquiry follows a complaint from a civil society organisation specialising in efforts to reduce tobacco consumption and exposure to tobacco smoke.
Based on information obtained through public access-to-documents requests, the organisation alleges that DG TRADE engaged in regular, unnecessary and non-transparent interactions with the tobacco industry.
The complainant also argues that such interactions risk undermining tobacco-control and public-health policies in countries outside the EU, particularly low- and middle-income countries.
Those claims are allegations made by the complainant and have not been established by the Ombudswoman.
The organisation further contends that the interactions may conflict with the EU’s obligations under the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).
Ombudswoman Requests Commission Documents
The Ombudswoman has begun the inquiry by seeking access to Commission documents concerning contacts with the tobacco industry.
The complaint was submitted on April 30, 2026, before progressing through analysis and inquiry procedures. The case was formally opened on August 18.
At this stage, the inquiry is examining how DG TRADE manages those interactions and whether its practices comply with applicable transparency and administrative requirements.
The opening of the case does not itself constitute a finding against DG TRADE.
Commission Previously Found at Fault Over Tobacco Lobbying Transparency
The latest inquiry follows an earlier Ombudsman investigation into the European Commission’s handling of tobacco industry contacts.
In 2023, the Ombudsman found maladministration in the Commission’s failure to ensure transparency consistently across its departments in relation to meetings with tobacco lobbyists.
The Ombudsman also found that the Commission had failed to ensure that all departments systematically assessed whether specific meetings with tobacco industry representatives were necessary.
The Commission subsequently carried out a risk assessment of departments’ exposure to tobacco industry lobbying and adopted measures intended to improve how such contacts are handled.
The new inquiry focuses specifically on DG TRADE and how the department currently manages interactions with tobacco industry representatives.
FCTC Obligations Form Part of the Inquiry
The case also raises questions about the EU’s obligations under the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.
Under the FCTC framework, parties are required to protect tobacco-control public-health policies from the commercial and other vested interests of the tobacco industry. Related implementation principles call for unnecessary interactions with the tobacco industry to be limited and for necessary contacts to be conducted transparently.
The complainant has relied on those obligations in challenging DG TRADE’s practices.
The Ombudswoman will now examine the relevant documentation and determine whether there was maladministration and whether further action by the European Commission is required.
Follow 2Firsts for the latest developments in global tobacco and nicotine regulation, policy and compliance.
Cover Image Source: IEU Monitoring
Disclaimer
This article is provided solely for professional research, industry discussion, and informational purposes. Any references to brands, companies, products, technologies, or policies are made for factual reporting and analytical purposes only, and do not constitute endorsement, recommendation, promotion, or advertising by 2Firsts.
Nicotine-containing products, including but not limited to cigarettes, e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products, and nicotine pouches, carry significant health risks. Readers are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions, including age restrictions and access limitations.
The information contained in this article should not be regarded as investment, legal, medical, regulatory, or commercial advice. While 2Firsts strives to ensure the accuracy and reliability of its content, it does not assume liability for any direct or indirect loss arising from errors, omissions, inaccuracies, or reliance on the information contained herein.
This article is not intended for individuals below the legal age for accessing tobacco or nicotine-related information in their jurisdiction.
Copyright Notice
This article is either original content produced by 2Firsts or content reproduced, translated, summarized, or adapted from third-party sources with attribution where applicable. The intellectual property rights of the original content remain with 2Firsts or the respective original rights holders.
No individual or organization may copy, reproduce, distribute, republish, modify, translate, or otherwise use this content without prior authorization. Any unauthorized use may result in legal action.
For copyright-related inquiries, corrections, or removal requests, please contact: info@2firsts.com.
AI-Assisted Translation and Editing Notice
Portions of this article may have been translated, edited, or reviewed with the assistance of artificial intelligence tools to improve efficiency and readability. Due to the limitations of AI-assisted translation and editing, discrepancies, omissions, or inaccuracies may exist when compared with the original source.
Where applicable, readers are advised to refer to the original source for the most complete and accurate information. If you identify any errors or believe that any content infringes upon your rights, please contact us at info@2firsts.com, and we will review and address the matter promptly.
