British Museum stubs out controversial tobacco sponsorship deal

"voluntary or non-binding funding to support the work of public authorities should not be accepted directly or indirectly from the tobacco industry, under any circumstances."

"There are clear rules in place for all public authorities that prohibit sponsorship from certain industries, including tobacco," the spokesperson said. "The decision to end the sponsorship period with a tobacco company was made by the British Museum's board of trustees independently of the government."

"categorically untrue"

The British Museum ended a 15-year sponsorship with Japan Tobacco International after the contract expired in September and JTI's name was subsequently removed from museum materials. A University of Bath-based Tobacco Control Research Group examined corporate influences on health and described the sponsorship as a key part of the tobacco firm's lobbying strategy. The British Museum's board of trustees decided not to renew the contract. UK health officials communicated concerns to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport that the deal could breach the World Health Organization framework convention on tobacco control. Government guidance advises that public authorities should not accept tobacco industry funding.

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