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Critics have charged British American Tobacco with “total contradiction” for opposing tobacco control measures in Africa that are already in place in the UK.

Campaign in Zambia

Documents seen by journalists sent from the corporation's branch in Zambia to the African officials demands proposals to prohibit tobacco advertising and sponsorship to be scrapped or postponed.

The company is attempting amendments to a proposed legislation that include reductions in the suggested dimensions of visual health alerts on cigarette packaging, the elimination of limitations on flavoured tobacco products, and watered-down penalties for any businesses disregarding the new laws.

Activist commentary

“If I was a politician, I would say that they enable the defense of the British people and perpetuate the death of the Zambian people,” stated Master Chimbala.

Thousands of residents a year pass away from tobacco-related illnesses, according to WHO calculations.

Chimbala said the letter was believed to have been distributed to various ministerial offices and was in distribution within public interest organizations.

Worldwide lobbying patterns

It comes amid broader worries about business sector influence with public health regulations. In recent weeks, global health authorities sounded an alarm that the tobacco industry was increasing attempts to weaken global control measures.

“We see evidence of business advocacy everywhere. Tobacco company fingerprints are on postponed duty hikes in Indonesia, halted laws in Zambia and even a weakened declaration at the UN summit conference,” said Jorge Alday.

Potential consequences

“If a tobacco control measure doesn't get enacted because of this letter, the price could be paid in lives of people who might otherwise quit smoking.”

The anti-smoking legislation going through Zambia’s parliament includes regulations surpassing UK legislation by also applying to e-cigarettes, and mandating that graphic health warnings cover seventy-five percent of product packaging.

Corporate counter-proposals

Via documentation, the corporation proposes this be reduced to 30% or 50% “according to global recommended threshold”, delayed for at least one year after the bill passes.

The WHO actually suggests a alert needs to encompass at least fifty percent of the front of a pack “and aim to cover as much of the primary showing sections as possible”. In the UK, warnings must cover nearly two-thirds of a cigarette pack surfaces.

Flavor restrictions debate

BAT asks for the withdrawal of extensive controls on flavoured tobacco products, claiming that it would drive users to “illegally traded” products. The company proposes restricting fewer varieties of “flavours based on desserts, candy, energy drinks, soft drinks and alcohol drinks”. All flavoured cigarettes have been outlawed across the UK since 2020.

The pending regulation recommends punishments for various offences “extending from a fraction of annual sales to a decade in prison”.

Company justification

Through correspondence, the corporate leader of the Zambian branch says the corporation is focused on good corporate behaviour” and “supports the objectives of governments to lower tobacco use and the associated health impact” but maintains that “some regulations can have negative and unanticipated results.”

Campaigner rebuttal

The advocate stated the corporation's recommended amendments would “undermine this law so much that the impact needed for it to create lasting transformation in society will not be achieved”.

The fact that multiple comparable regulations existed in the UK, where BAT is headquartered, was “total double standard”, he said.

“We exist in a international community. If I plant tobacco in my garden and collect the yield and distribute the goods – and my family members avoid tobacco, but my neighbor's family uses … to profit individually and all the subsequent offspring while my community's youth are dying … is in itself total emotional bankruptcy.”

Anti-smoking regulations in the Britain or other nations had not resulted in corporate closures, the campaigner stated. “Legislation never shuts down the industry. They merely safeguard the people.”

Formal company response

The company representative commented: “The corporation runs its business in compliance with relevant national regulations. Additionally, the corporation engages in the country’s legislative process in line with the relevant frameworks which enable relevant group engagement in legislation creation.”

The company was “not resisting legislation”, the representative commented, noting that young individuals should be safeguarded against acquiring smoking products and nicotine.

“We support developing rules to accomplish desired population health targets, while acknowledging the spectrum of entitlements and duties on industry, consumers and related stakeholders,” they said, adding that the company's suggestions “mirror the circumstances of the Zambian market and cigarette sector, which includes rising levels of illicit trade”.

The nation's ministry of economic activities and commercial operations was solicited for statement.