🔗 Share this article

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

Campaign in Zambia

Correspondence acquired by reporters originating from the firm's affiliate in Zambia to the nation's political leaders demands measures restricting tobacco marketing and promotional activities to be abandoned or delayed.

The company is attempting amendments to a pending law that include reductions in the recommended coverage of visual health alerts on cigarette packaging, the withdrawal of controls on flavored smoking items, and reduced sanctions for any companies violating the new laws.

Health advocate reaction

“Were I in government, I would say that they allow the safeguarding of the British people and perpetuate the death of the Zambian people,” stated Master Chimbala.

Thousands of residents a year die from smoking-associated diseases, according to WHO calculations.

Chimbala said the letter was known to have been circulated to multiple official agencies and was in circulation among civil society groups.

Worldwide lobbying patterns

It comes amid broader worries about industry interference with public health regulations. In recent weeks, WHO officials sounded an alarm that the tobacco industry was intensifying efforts to dilute worldwide restrictions.

“There is proof of corporate influence everywhere. Corporate signatures are on postponed duty hikes in Indonesia, delayed regulations in Zambia and even a diluted statement at the UN high-level meeting,” commented Jorge Alday.

Possible outcomes

“Should anti-smoking legislation fails to be approved because of this letter, the consequences may be suffered in individuals' health who might potentially stop smoking.”

The tobacco control bill going through Zambia’s parliament includes regulations surpassing UK legislation by also applying to e-cigarettes, and mandating that pictorial cautions cover seventy-five percent of product packaging.

Company alternative suggestions

Via documentation, the corporation proposes this be lowered to thirty to fifty percent “according to global guideline limits”, deferred for no less than 12 months after the law is enacted.

Global health authorities actually suggests a alert needs to encompass at least half of the product container front “and seek to occupy as much of the primary showing sections as possible”. In the UK, warnings must cover nearly two-thirds of a cigarette pack surfaces.

Scented product controversy

The corporation requests the removal of broad restrictions on scented smoking items, suggesting that it would lead smokers to “black market” products. It suggests prohibiting a smaller list 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 proposes sanctions for different infractions “varying from a percentage of annual turnover to ten-year jail sentences”.

Business explanation

In the letter, the corporate leader of the African subsidiary states the firm is “committed to ethical business practices” and “endorses the aims of governments to lower tobacco use and the associated health impact” but maintains that “specific rules can have negative and unanticipated results.”

Campaigner rebuttal

The advocate stated the corporation's recommended amendments would “weaken this legislation so much that the impact needed for it to produce permanent improvement in society will not be achieved”.

The circumstance that numerous similar measures existed in the UK, where the corporation is based, was “utter hypocrisy itself”, he said.

“We exist in a global village. If I plant tobacco in my garden and harvest that and distribute the goods – and my family members avoid tobacco, but my neighbor's family uses … to benefit personally and all the future family lines while my neighbor's family are dying … is in itself complete moral failure.”

Public health laws in the Britain or other nations had not caused companies to close, the advocate mentioned. “Legislation never shuts down the industry. It only protects the people.”

Official corporate statement

The company representative stated: “BAT Zambia conducts its activities following with current country statutes. Additionally, the corporation engages in the nation's lawmaking procedures in line with the relevant frameworks which provide for stakeholder participation in regulation development.”

The corporation remained “not opposed to regulation”, they said, mentioning that minors should be shielded from obtaining cigarettes and nicotine.

“We advocate for evolving legislation to realize planned public health goals, while acknowledging the spectrum of entitlements and duties on industry, consumers and related stakeholders,” they said, adding that the corporation's recommendations “reflect the realities of the Zambian market and cigarette sector, which involves increasing amounts of black market activity”.

The nation's ministry of business, commercial affairs and industrial development was solicited for statement.