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British American Tobacco has been accused of “utter hypocrisy” for lobbying against tobacco control measures in Africa which are already enforced in the UK.

African regulatory opposition

Documents seen by journalists sent from the company’s subsidiary in Zambia to the African officials demands plans to ban tobacco marketing and promotional activities to be scrapped or postponed.

The tobacco firm seeks amendments to a draft bill that include lowering the proposed size of pictorial cautions on cigarette packaging, the elimination of limitations on flavored smoking items, and diminished punishments for any firms breaking the new laws.

Activist commentary

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

More than 7,000 Zambians a year die from smoking-associated diseases, according to WHO calculations.

The campaigner stated the letter was understood to have been copied to several government departments and was in distribution within civil society groups.

Worldwide lobbying patterns

The situation emerges alongside broader worries about industry interference with medical guidelines. Last month, international health experts raised concerns that the tobacco industry was intensifying efforts to dilute worldwide restrictions.

“Evidence exists of corporate influence everywhere. Corporate signatures are on deferred levy rises in Indonesia, halted laws in Zambia and even a weakened declaration at the UN high-level meeting,” said the tobacco industry watchdog.

Possible outcomes

“When public health regulation 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 being considered by Zambia’s parliament includes measures that exceed UK legislation by also applying to e-cigarettes, and requiring that pictorial cautions cover 75% of product packaging.

Corporate counter-proposals

In the letter, the company recommends this be decreased to 30% or 50% “within the WHO-FCTC recommended threshold”, postponed for minimum twelve months after the legislation is approved.

Global health authorities actually suggests a alert needs to encompass at least fifty percent of the cigarette package face “and aim to cover as much of the main visible surfaces as possible”. In the UK, warnings need to encompass sixty-five percent of a cigarette pack surfaces.

Flavored tobacco discussion

BAT asks for the withdrawal of extensive controls on scented smoking items, claiming that it would drive users to “black market” products. The company proposes banning a limited selection of “tastes inspired by desserts, candy, energy drinks, soft drinks and alcohol drinks”. Every scented tobacco product have been prohibited in Britain since 2020.

The pending regulation proposes sanctions for multiple violations “extending from a fraction of annual sales to a decade in prison”.

Company justification

In the letter, the company executive of British American Tobacco Zambia states the firm is “committed to responsible corporate conduct” and “supports the objectives of governments to decrease cigarette consumption and the related medical consequences” but maintains that “certain measures can have undesirable and unforeseen outcomes.”

Campaigner rebuttal

Chimbala said BAT’s proposed changes 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 multiple comparable regulations operated within the UK, where BAT is headquartered, was “utter hypocrisy itself”, he said.

“We live in a global village. Should I grow cigarettes in my garden and gather the crop and sell it out – and my family members avoid 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 absolute spiritual bankruptcy.”

Anti-smoking regulations in the Britain or other nations had failed to shutter businesses, the campaigner stated. “Laws don't eliminate the industry. Measures simply defend the people.”

Official corporate statement

The corporate communicator said: “The corporation runs its activities following with applicable local laws. Additionally, the corporation engages in the state's regulatory development in line with the appropriate structures which allow for interested party involvement in legislation creation.”

The corporation remained “not opposed to regulation”, the spokesperson stated, mentioning that minors should be safeguarded against access to tobacco and nicotine.

“We advocate for progressive regulation to realize planned population health targets, while acknowledging the spectrum of privileges and responsibilities on corporations, customers and associated groups,” the spokesperson stated, adding that the corporation's recommendations “represent the situation 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 contacted for response.