🔗 Share this article

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

Zambian lobbying efforts

Correspondence acquired by reporters dispatched by the company’s subsidiary in Zambia to the country’s government ministers demands measures restricting tobacco advertising and sponsorship to be abandoned or delayed.

The company is attempting modifications of a proposed legislation that include decreasing the proposed size of pictorial cautions on cigarette packaging, the elimination of limitations on scented cigarette varieties, and watered-down penalties for any businesses disregarding the new laws.

Health advocate reaction

“If I was a politician, I would say that they enable the defense of the British people and continue the mortality of the Zambian people,” stated the health advocate.

More than 7,000 Zambians a year pass away from smoking-associated diseases, 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 public interest organizations.

Global industry interference concerns

The situation emerges alongside expanded apprehension about corporate intervention with health policies. In recent weeks, international health experts sounded an alarm that the smoking product companies was intensifying efforts to undermine international regulations.

“There is proof of corporate influence worldwide. Corporate signatures are on deferred levy rises in Indonesia, halted laws in Zambia and even a compromised resolution at the UN summit conference,” stated Jorge Alday.

Possible outcomes

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

The public health measure going through Zambia’s parliament includes measures that exceed UK legislation by extending coverage to e-cigarettes, and requiring that graphic health warnings cover seventy-five percent of product packaging.

Corporate counter-proposals

Through correspondence, the company recommends this be decreased to thirty to fifty percent “following international recommended threshold”, deferred for no less than 12 months after the legislation is approved.

International experts actually suggests a caution must occupy at least 50% of the product container front “and aim to cover as much of the primary showing sections as possible”. Across the United Kingdom, warnings must cover 65% of a product container sides.

Scented product controversy

BAT asks for the removal of broad restrictions on scented smoking items, claiming that it would drive users to “illicitly sold” products. The company proposes banning a limited selection of “flavours based on desserts, candy, energy drinks, soft drinks and alcohol drinks”. All flavoured cigarettes have been prohibited in Britain since 2020.

The draft bill suggests penalties for different infractions “varying from a fraction of annual sales to ten-year jail sentences”.

Company justification

Through correspondence, the managing director of the African subsidiary says the corporation is focused on ethical business practices” and “supports the objectives of governments to decrease cigarette consumption and the related medical consequences” but maintains that “specific rules can have negative and unanticipated results.”

Activist reaction

The advocate stated the company's suggested modifications 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 operated within the UK, where the corporation is based, was “total double standard”, he commented.

“We live in a international community. If I plant tobacco in my back yard and gather the crop and sell it out – and my children do not consume tobacco, but my neighbor's family uses … to profit individually and all the generations of my children while my neighbor's family are perishing … is in itself complete moral collapse.”

Tobacco control legislation in the Britain or other nations had not caused companies to close, the advocate mentioned. “Laws don't eliminate the industry. It only protects the people.”

Official corporate statement

A BAT Zambia spokesperson stated: “BAT Zambia conducts its operations according with relevant national regulations. Moreover, the firm contributes in the nation's lawmaking procedures in line with the suitable systems which enable interested party involvement in legislation creation.”

The firm positioned itself as “not against rules”, the representative commented, noting that minors should be safeguarded against access to tobacco and nicotine.

“We advocate for evolving legislation to achieve intended public health goals, while accepting the variety of rights and obligations on corporations, customers and associated groups,” the representative explained, noting that the company's suggestions “reflect the realities of the local commercial environment and smoking product business, which involves growing volumes of illegal commerce”.

The country's office of economic activities and commercial operations was solicited for statement.