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British American Tobacco has been accused of “complete double standards” for lobbying against tobacco control measures in Africa that are already in place in the UK.

Campaign in Zambia

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

The corporation is pursuing changes to a draft bill that include reductions in the proposed size of pictorial cautions on cigarette packaging, the withdrawal of controls on flavored smoking items, and diminished punishments for any businesses disregarding the new laws.

Anti-tobacco campaigner response

“If I was a politician, I would say that they allow the safeguarding of the British people and perpetuate the death of the Zambian people,” commented the health advocate.

More than 7,000 Zambians a year succumb to cigarette-linked health conditions, according to global health agency statistics.

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

International corporate influence worries

This occurs during wider concerns about industry interference with health policies. Recently, global health authorities sounded an alarm that the tobacco industry was increasing attempts to dilute worldwide restrictions.

“Evidence exists of corporate influence worldwide. Tobacco company fingerprints are on postponed duty hikes in Indonesia, delayed regulations in Zambia and even a weakened declaration at the UN summit conference,” stated the corporate monitoring director.

Possible outcomes

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

The anti-smoking legislation progressing through Zambia’s parliament includes regulations surpassing UK legislation by including provisions for e-cigarettes, and requiring that graphic health warnings cover seventy-five percent of product packaging.

Corporate counter-proposals

In the letter, BAT suggests this be decreased to 30% or 50% “following international guideline limits”, delayed for at least one year after the bill passes.

Global health authorities actually suggests a alert needs to encompass at least half of the cigarette package face “and aim to cover as much of the main visible surfaces as possible”. Across the United Kingdom, warnings need to encompass 65% of a packet’s front and back.

Flavored tobacco discussion

The corporation requests the removal of broad restrictions on scented smoking items, claiming that it would lead smokers to “illicitly sold” products. The company proposes prohibiting a smaller list of “tastes inspired by desserts, candy, energy drinks, soft drinks and alcohol drinks”. Each flavored smoking item have been outlawed across the UK since 2020.

The draft bill recommends punishments for various offences “varying from a fraction of annual sales to ten-year jail sentences”.

Company justification

Through correspondence, the managing director of the Zambian branch states the firm is “committed to ethical business practices” and “supports the objectives of governments to decrease cigarette consumption and the related medical consequences” but maintains that “certain measures can have unwelcome and unexpected consequences.”

Activist reaction

Chimbala said the company's suggested modifications would “weaken this legislation so much that the necessary effect for it to produce permanent improvement in society will not be achieved”.

The reality that many such provisions operated within the UK, where BAT is headquartered, was “utter hypocrisy itself”, he commented.

“We exist in a international community. Should I grow cigarettes 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 benefit personally and all the generations of my children while my community's youth are dying … is in itself absolute spiritual bankruptcy.”

Public health laws in the Britain or other nations had not caused companies to close, the campaigner stated. “Laws don't eliminate the industry. It only protects the people.”

Formal company response

The company representative said: “The corporation runs its business in compliance with applicable local laws. Additionally, the company participates in the nation's lawmaking procedures in line with the appropriate structures which provide for stakeholder participation in policymaking.”

The company was “not resisting legislation”, the spokesperson stated, noting that minors should be protected from acquiring smoking products and nicotine.

“We support developing rules to accomplish desired population health targets, while recognizing the range of entitlements and duties on corporations, customers and associated groups,” the representative explained, mentioning that the company's suggestions “represent the situation of the Zambian market and cigarette sector, which involves growing volumes of black market activity”.

The nation's ministry of trade, commerce and industry was solicited for statement.