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

Campaign in Zambia

Correspondence acquired by reporters sent from the firm's affiliate in Zambia to the African officials asks for proposals to prohibit tobacco advertising and sponsorship to be abandoned or delayed.

The tobacco firm seeks amendments to a proposed legislation that include reductions in the proposed size of pictorial cautions on cigarette packaging, the withdrawal of controls on flavoured tobacco products, and watered-down penalties for any companies violating the new laws.

Anti-tobacco campaigner response

“As an elected official, I would say that they enable the defense of the British people and sustain the fatalities of the Zambian people,” said Master Chimbala.

Over seven thousand citizens a year pass away from smoking-associated diseases, according to WHO calculations.

The advocate mentioned the letter was believed to have been distributed to several government departments and was in distribution within public interest organizations.

Worldwide lobbying patterns

It comes amid wider concerns about industry interference with public health regulations. In recent weeks, international health experts raised concerns that the smoking product companies was intensifying efforts to undermine international regulations.

“We see evidence of industry lobbying everywhere. Manufacturer hallmarks are on postponed duty hikes in Indonesia, halted laws in Zambia and even a compromised resolution at the UN high-level meeting,” commented the tobacco industry watchdog.

Possible outcomes

“Should anti-smoking legislation doesn't get enacted because of this letter, the cost might be borne in lives of people who might potentially stop smoking.”

The public health measure being considered by Zambia’s parliament includes measures that exceed UK legislation by also applying to e-cigarettes, and requiring that graphic health warnings cover three-quarters of product packaging.

Corporate counter-proposals

Through correspondence, BAT suggests this be lowered to less than half “following international suggested parameters”, postponed for minimum 12 months after the law is enacted.

The WHO actually suggests a warning should cover at least 50% of the product container front “and aim to cover as much of the primary showing sections as possible”. Within Britain, warnings are required to occupy sixty-five percent of a product container sides.

Scented product controversy

The company seeks the withdrawal of extensive controls on flavored cigarette varieties, suggesting that it would push consumers toward “illicitly sold” products. It suggests restricting fewer varieties of “scents derived from desserts, candy, energy drinks, soft drinks and alcohol drinks”. All flavoured cigarettes have been prohibited in Britain since 2020.

The proposed legislation proposes sanctions for various offences “varying from a fraction of annual sales to a decade in prison”.

Corporate defense

In the letter, the company executive of British American Tobacco Zambia says the firm is “committed to ethical business practices” and “backs the goals of governments to decrease cigarette consumption and the connected wellbeing effects” but asserts that “certain measures can have undesirable and unforeseen outcomes.”

Activist reaction

Chimbala said BAT’s proposed changes would “undermine this law so much that the impact needed for it to produce permanent improvement in society will not be achieved”.

The circumstance that multiple comparable regulations existed in the UK, where the corporation is based, was “complete contradiction”, he commented.

“We exist in a connected world. When I cultivate smoking products in my back yard and collect the yield and sell it out – and my offspring don't use tobacco, but my community's youth consumes … to enrich myself and all the generations of my children while my community's youth are dying … is in itself absolute spiritual failure.”

Public health laws in the UK or elsewhere had failed to shutter businesses, the advocate mentioned. “Legislation never shuts down the industry. Measures simply defend the people.”

Standard business position

The company representative stated: “The corporation runs its business in compliance with current country statutes. Additionally, the corporation engages in the nation's lawmaking procedures in line with the appropriate structures which enable relevant group engagement in legislation creation.”

The firm positioned itself as “not opposed to regulation”, the representative commented, noting that young individuals should be safeguarded against obtaining cigarettes and nicotine.

“We champion developing rules to accomplish desired community wellbeing objectives, while accepting the variety of entitlements and duties on corporations, customers and associated groups,” they said, mentioning that the corporation's recommendations “reflect the realities of the Zambian market and cigarette sector, which includes growing volumes of illicit trade”.

The nation's ministry of economic activities and commercial operations was approached for comment.