This special report describes the methodology for calculating the indicator for the adoption of effective mechanisms to counter interference by the tobacco industry and those who work to further its interests, as established in the Strategy and Plan of Action to Strengthen Tobacco Control in the Region of the Americas 2018-2022; the report also presents the status of adoption of these mechanisms in the countries of the Region as of 2019, and progress since 2016. It was found that, as of 2019, of the 35 Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) Member States 13 had regulations establishing specific measures for managing conflicts of interest for government officials and employees with responsibility for tobacco control policies; seven had implemented related but nonspecific measures; and 14 had not implemented any measure. Although there has been progress since 2016, efforts must be redoubled to reach the target of 20 Member States having mechanisms for the identification and management of conflicts of interest, as established in the Strategy and Plan of Action. It should be noted that having regulations on the subject does not fulfill, nor by any means fully meet, all the obligations arising from Article 5.3 of the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. The PAHO Secretariat, in response to requests by Member States, developed the methodology for calculation of the indicator and systematized the findings that are presented.
