bat sustainability report 2007 - Product stewardship
GRI performance
PR2 Incidents of non-compliance with regulations concerning health and safety
In 2007, one incident was reported by our subsidiary Imperial Tobacco Canada Limited. Some of its products were found not to meet the country’s regulatory Low Ignition Propensity Standard during regular product testing by Health Canada, the Canadian Government health department. In consultation with Health Canada, Imperial took the necessary corrective measures.
PR4 Incidents of non-compliance with regulations concerning product labelling
In 2007, our company in Turkey received a Tobacco Regulation Board warning that it had not included proper licence numbers on its invoices. This is being challenged on the basis that the licence numbers were obtained from the Board’s official website.
We aim to ensure that there are no aspects of our products which, under normal conditions of use, would significantly increase the risks to health associated with tobacco products. We have a number of processes covering ingredients, additives and materials.
Our Additives and Materials Guidance Panel is responsible for advising on the acceptability for use of any proposed new ingredients or materials. The Panel consists of specialist scientists from Group Research & Development. Proposed ingredients and materials are subjected to comprehensive analysis which may include toxicological and risk assessments.
The Panel combines the knowledge and expertise of its members with an assessment of external scientific evidence in order to determine the acceptability or not of an ingredient and its maximum permitted use levels.
We also monitor legislation relevant to ingredients and materials in use in our products around the world, undertake any necessary reformulation and provide guidance to Group companies and their suppliers.
There is more information on the ingredients in our products at our dedicated website, bat-ingredients.com 
Scientific Research Group
Product development is also guided by our Scientific Research Group. Comprising senior scientists from Group Research & Development, its remit is to review external research and published opinion on tobacco-related science and associated health matters. Its expert opinion is used to guide the development of Group positions and product best practice guidelines.
On the currently available science, we do not believe that any of the ingredients and materials used in manufacturing our products, at the levels used, increase the health risks posed by tobacco products.
Product quality
Good product quality management is key to ensuring that we provide our consumers with products that meet their expectations and satisfy regulatory requirements.
Product Integrity and Traceability is a common approach adopted across the Group, ensuring the integrity of our products and minimising the risk of non-conforming product reaching consumers. Our approach includes product recall and response processes. Assessment procedures are in place to ensure that minimum product integrity standards are achieved in our factories and in-market.
Measurements of physical, visual and tactile product features along with smoke yields are used to evaluate performance and in the development of continuous improvement action plans.
More information regarding cigarette design and manufacture can be found at bat.com/products
© 2008 British American Tobacco