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Critics have charged British American Tobacco with “complete double standards” for opposing anti-smoking regulations in Africa that currently exist in the UK.

Zambian lobbying efforts

A letter obtained by media sent from the firm's affiliate in Zambia to the African officials demands plans to ban tobacco advertising and sponsorship to be canceled or deferred.

The corporation is pursuing amendments to a proposed legislation that include reductions in the recommended coverage of graphic health warnings on cigarette packaging, the withdrawal of controls on flavored smoking items, and reduced sanctions for any companies violating the new laws.

Anti-tobacco campaigner response

“Were I in government, I would say that they permit the protection of the British people and sustain the fatalities of the Zambian people,” said the health advocate.

Over seven thousand citizens a year die from tobacco-related illnesses, according to World Health Organization estimates.

Chimbala said the letter was understood to have been copied to several government departments and was in circulating through community advocacy networks.

Worldwide lobbying patterns

It comes amid wider concerns about industry interference with public health regulations. Last month, international health experts issued a warning that the cigarette manufacturers was intensifying efforts to weaken global control measures.

“We see evidence of business advocacy worldwide. Manufacturer hallmarks are on postponed duty hikes in Indonesia, stalled legislation in Zambia and even a compromised resolution at the UN high-level meeting,” commented Jorge Alday.

Potential consequences

“When public health regulation doesn't get enacted because of this letter, the consequences may be suffered in human lives who might possibly give up cigarettes.”

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

Business countermeasures

In the letter, the corporation proposes this be reduced to thirty to fifty percent “following international recommended threshold”, postponed for minimum 12 months after the bill passes.

The WHO actually suggests a caution must occupy at least half of the product container front “and attempt to encompass as much of the main visible surfaces as possible”. Across the United Kingdom, warnings are required to occupy 65% of a cigarette pack surfaces.

Scented product controversy

The corporation requests the withdrawal of extensive controls on flavoured tobacco products, claiming that it would push consumers toward “illicitly sold” products. It suggests restricting fewer varieties of “flavours based on desserts, candy, energy drinks, soft drinks and alcohol drinks”. Every scented tobacco product have been banned in the UK since 2020.

The draft bill proposes sanctions for different infractions “varying from a portion of yearly revenue to a decade in prison”.

Business explanation

Through correspondence, the corporate leader of British American Tobacco Zambia claims the company is dedicated to responsible corporate conduct” and “supports the objectives of governments to lower tobacco use and the connected wellbeing effects” but asserts that “certain measures can have negative and unanticipated results.”

Activist reaction

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

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

“We reside in a international community. When I cultivate smoking products in my garden and gather the crop and market the products – and my children do not consume tobacco, but my neighbor's family uses … to enrich myself and all the subsequent offspring while my neighbour’s children are perishing … is in itself absolute spiritual collapse.”

Anti-smoking regulations in the UK or elsewhere had not resulted in corporate closures, Chimbala said. “Laws don't eliminate the industry. It only protects the people.”

Formal company response

The corporate communicator said: “The company operates its operations according with relevant national regulations. Additionally, the company participates in the nation's lawmaking procedures in line with the relevant frameworks which provide for relevant group engagement in regulation development.”

The firm positioned itself as “not resisting legislation”, they said, mentioning that young individuals should be safeguarded against acquiring smoking products and nicotine.

“We support progressive regulation to realize planned population health targets, while recognizing the range of rights and obligations on businesses, users and involved parties,” they said, adding that BAT’s proposals “represent the situation of the African nation's economy and cigarette sector, which involves rising levels of illicit trade”.

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