Mr Attila Toth

Attila Toth is a senior government and EU affairs professional with extensive experience in regulatory and legislative environments, particularly related to the tobacco sector. He held the position of EU Affairs Director at British American Tobacco from February 2017 to August 2018 and served previously in various roles at BAT Hungary, including Government Affairs Manager and Head of Legal and External Affairs. His background spans over ten years in governmental and diplomatic posts, including agriculture and rural development regulation in Hungary, and postings in Brussels, Washington D.C., and Budapest. Known for a strategic, results-driven approach, he combines expertise in EU law, public policy, trade, and regulatory negotiations with robust communication and leadership skills. His career history reflects deep engagement with regulatory frameworks impacting the tobacco industry, including CAP reforms and market regulations, positioning him well to represent BAT’s interests within the EU context

Attila Toth’s lobbying activities for British American Tobacco (BAT) are centered on navigating and influencing the complex regulatory landscape affecting tobacco production, marketing, and trade within the EU and Hungary. His core intention is to advocate for policies that enable BAT to operate in a sustainable and profitable manner amid stringent regulations and shifting public health policies.

His background in agricultural policy, combined with expertise in government relations, EU law, and public policy, equips him to shield BAT’s interests against restrictive tobacco regulations that could impact the company’s market and profitability. His lobbying aims include influencing legislative and regulatory initiatives such as tobacco taxation, product standardization, marketing restrictions, and public health regulations to minimize adverse effects on BAT’s business.

Toth’s strategic lobbying is designed not only to represent the explicit interests of BAT but also to align with broader sectoral and economic narratives, emphasizing responsible regulation, corporate social responsibility (CSR), and sustainability. This approach is intended to maintain dialogue openness with policymakers and the public, portraying BAT as a compliant and adapting industry player. Additionally, his diplomatic and legal expertise enables him to identify and pursue regulatory flexibilities and exceptions, mitigating the risk of overly burdensome regulations.

Overall, Toth’s true and sometimes hidden intention in lobbying is to secure a regulatory environment conducive to BAT’s business continuity and expansion within the UK and EU markets. This includes safeguarding favorable tax frameworks, resisting complete marketing bans, and shaping product-related standards that protect BAT’s competitive positioning while maintaining a socially responsible image to counteract increasing public and political pressures on tobacco companies

During his tenure as EU Affairs Director at British American Tobacco (2017-2018), Attila Toth actively engaged in numerous lobbying activities targeting EU institutions and national governments to influence tobacco-related policies.

He participated in high-level meetings with Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), European Commission officials, and regulatory bodies to discuss tobacco control legislation, taxation policies, and market access issues. His agricultural and legal background enabled him to articulate BAT’s positions on tobacco taxation and product regulation with considerable technical detail, helping shape discussions on amendments to EU tobacco directives and national legislative proposals.

In Hungary, as Government Affairs Manager and Head of Legal Affairs for BAT, Toth was involved in direct dialogues with Hungarian government ministers and officials responsible for health, finance, and agriculture sectors. For example, he publicly commented on proposed tobacco tax increases, highlighting the sector’s economic challenges and arguing against measures that could disproportionately increase prices and harm industry viability. These interventions coincided with government decisions that balanced health objectives with economic impacts, suggesting his lobbying influenced more measured tobacco tax policies in Hungary.

At the EU level, Toth’s engagement included providing expert input during consultations on the EU Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) review and contributing to policy debates on cross-border tobacco trade and regulatory harmonization. His diplomatic experience allowed him to build coalitions with other industry stakeholders and craft messaging aimed at achieving regulatory clarity and predictability for BAT.

Though specific meeting details and attendees are not exhaustively documented publicly, his role necessitated regular contact with key policymakers across the European Commission, the European Parliament’s ENVI (Environment, Public Health and Food Safety) Committee, and relevant national ministries. These interactions reportedly contributed to the formulation of tobacco policies that reflected industry realities and allowed BAT to maintain compliance while protecting its market share

LinkedIn Profile: https://hu.linkedin.com/in/tothattila (Note: active professional profile detailing career history)
Correspondence Address: 71-75, Shelton Street, Covent Garden, London, United Kingdom, WC2H 9JQ
Role: Director (Companies House, UK Official Record)
No publicly available phone number or direct email listed
No verified public social media accounts beyond LinkedIn have been identified
British American Tobacco official website: https://www.bat.com/

This contact information reflects publicly available data, primarily from professional networking and corporate registration sources