Industry lobbying and its impact on NCD policies

This chapter examines the impact of industry lobbying on NCD public policies. The chapter illustrates how commercial industries, including tobacco, food, and pharmaceuticals, engage in political practices to prevent, weaken, and delay public health regulations. It presents case studies, such as industry opposition to the regulation of electronic cigarettes in Georgia, opposition to sugar-sweetened beverage taxes, and an example of pharmaceutical industry lobbying using patient associations and families. It emphasizes the pervasive nature of industry interference in policymaking, which often prioritizes commercial interests over public health, and calls for stronger regulatory measures to counteract these lobbying efforts and protect NCD policies.