🔗 Share this article

Critics have charged British American Tobacco with “complete double standards” for opposing tobacco control measures in Africa that currently exist in the UK.

African regulatory opposition

Documents seen by journalists sent from the firm's affiliate in Zambia to the country’s government ministers requests proposals to prohibit tobacco marketing and promotional activities to be canceled or deferred.

The tobacco firm seeks modifications of a proposed legislation that include decreasing the proposed size of visual health alerts on cigarette packaging, the removal of restrictions on scented cigarette varieties, and diminished punishments for any companies violating the new laws.

Activist commentary

“Were I in government, I would say that they enable the defense of the British people and sustain the fatalities of the Zambian people,” commented the anti-tobacco campaigner.

Over seven thousand citizens a year succumb to tobacco-related illnesses, according to global health agency statistics.

The campaigner stated the letter was understood to have been copied to multiple official agencies and was in circulating through public interest organizations.

Worldwide lobbying patterns

The situation emerges alongside expanded apprehension about business sector influence with public health regulations. Recently, international health experts sounded an alarm that the smoking product companies was escalating campaigns to weaken global control measures.

“Evidence exists of business advocacy worldwide. Corporate signatures are on delayed tax increases in Indonesia, stalled legislation in Zambia and even a compromised resolution at the UN high-level meeting,” said the corporate monitoring director.

Likely impacts

“Should anti-smoking legislation isn’t passed because of this letter, the price could be paid in human lives who might potentially stop smoking.”

The tobacco control bill going through Zambia’s parliament includes measures that exceed UK legislation by including provisions for e-cigarettes, and stipulating that pictorial cautions cover seventy-five percent of product packaging.

Company alternative suggestions

Via documentation, BAT suggests this be lowered to 30% or 50% “according to global recommended threshold”, deferred for no less than twelve months after the law is enacted.

International experts specifically advises a caution must occupy at least 50% of the front of a pack “and aim to cover as much of the primary showing sections as possible”. Across the United Kingdom, warnings need to encompass 65% of a packet’s front and back.

Flavor restrictions debate

The company seeks the removal of broad restrictions on scented smoking items, claiming that it would push consumers toward “illicitly sold” products. The corporation recommends restricting fewer varieties of “flavours based on desserts, candy, energy drinks, soft drinks and alcohol drinks”. All flavoured cigarettes have been banned in the UK since 2020.

The pending regulation recommends punishments for various offences “ranging from a percentage of annual turnover to a decade in prison”.

Company justification

In the letter, the managing director of the Zambian branch claims the corporation is focused on good corporate behaviour” and “endorses the aims of governments to decrease cigarette consumption and the associated health impact” but asserts that “specific rules can have unwelcome and unexpected consequences.”

Campaigner rebuttal

Chimbala said the corporation's recommended amendments would “undermine this law so much that the required influence for it to produce permanent improvement in society will not be achieved”.

The reality that many such provisions existed in the UK, where BAT is headquartered, was “utter hypocrisy itself”, he commented.

“We reside in a connected world. Should I grow cigarettes in my garden and harvest that and sell it out – and my children do not consume tobacco, but my community's youth consumes … to profit individually and all the generations of my children while my neighbour’s children are perishing … is in itself absolute spiritual bankruptcy.”

Public health laws in the UK or elsewhere had not caused companies to close, the campaigner stated. “Regulations don't close the industry. They merely safeguard the people.”

Official corporate statement

The company representative commented: “BAT Zambia conducts its activities following with current country statutes. Moreover, the company participates in the state's regulatory development in line with the suitable systems which provide for interested party involvement in policymaking.”

The corporation remained “not opposed to regulation”, they said, mentioning that minors should be protected from acquiring smoking products and nicotine.

“We champion progressive regulation to realize planned community wellbeing objectives, while acknowledging the spectrum of rights and obligations on businesses, users and involved parties,” the representative explained, mentioning that the company's suggestions “mirror the circumstances of the African nation's economy and cigarette sector, which involves increasing amounts of illicit trade”.

The country's office of business, commercial affairs and industrial development was contacted for response.