The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) highlights the comprehensive ban of tobacco sponsorship as one of the effective measures to drop smoking levels. Countries that have ratified it pledge to put this measure in practice in favor of public health. Even though the Convention was ratified in Bulgaria by law in 2005, sponsorship by tobacco production or tobacco trade industry is still allowed with only two exceptions - sponsorship of radio and TV productions; and sponsorship of events that take place in several EU member states, EEA member states, or have other transborder effect.
In summer of 2018 the fourth edition of a program called "Summer for Joy, Autumn for Care" was launched, funded by Philip Morris Bulgaria. It includes educational academy for children, medical check-ups for elderly people, local entrepreneurs academy and teachers academy in tobacco producing regions in Bulgaria. As of December 2018 the program has received six awards for a charity initiative and corporate social responsibility (CSR). One of the award ceremonies was hosted by the Bulgarian President. The program is as well noted as a positive example of CSR in a textbook by a university lecturer.
The presentation will focus on notable practices of tobacco sponsorship and CSR in Bulgaria. It will track on tobacco industry approaches of sidestepping existing regulations and benefiting from the lacking ones. It will as well note the forms of recognition of tobacco industry initiatives received by media, academics as well as state institutions.