The complainant, a non-governmental organisation, raised concerns about how the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Trade and Economic Security (DG TRADE) handles interactions with representatives of the tobacco industry. Specifically, the complainant argues that DG TRADE has engaged in regular, non-necessary, and non-transparent interactions with the tobacco industry in breach of the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, to which the EU is a party. The complainant alleges that these interactions can undermine tobacco control efforts and public health policies in third countries, especially low- and middle-income countries.

The Ombudsman opened an inquiry and asked to inspect various Commission documents regarding its interactions with the tobacco industry as well as related documents mentioning tobacco or nicotine that concern discussions with third countries.