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

Zambian lobbying efforts

A letter obtained by media dispatched by the firm's affiliate in Zambia to the country’s government ministers requests proposals to prohibit tobacco advertising and sponsorship to be abandoned or delayed.

The tobacco firm seeks modifications of a draft bill that include lowering the proposed size of visual health alerts on cigarette packaging, the withdrawal of controls on scented cigarette varieties, and watered-down penalties for any firms breaking the new laws.

Health advocate reaction

“As an elected official, I would say that they permit the protection of the British people and sustain the fatalities of the Zambian people,” said the anti-tobacco campaigner.

More than 7,000 Zambians a year die from cigarette-linked health conditions, according to World Health Organization estimates.

The campaigner stated the letter was believed to have been distributed to multiple official agencies and was in distribution within civil society groups.

International corporate influence worries

This occurs during broader worries about corporate intervention with medical guidelines. Recently, international health experts raised concerns that the smoking product companies was increasing attempts to undermine international regulations.

“We see evidence of industry lobbying globally. Tobacco company fingerprints are on delayed tax increases in Indonesia, delayed regulations in Zambia and even a weakened declaration at the UN summit conference,” commented Jorge Alday.

Likely impacts

“Should anti-smoking legislation isn’t passed because of this letter, the cost might be borne in human lives who might otherwise quit smoking.”

The anti-smoking legislation being considered by Zambia’s parliament includes proposals to go further UK legislation by also applying to e-cigarettes, and stipulating that pictorial cautions cover seventy-five percent of product packaging.

Corporate counter-proposals

Via documentation, the corporation proposes this be lowered to less than half “following international guideline limits”, deferred for no less than 12 months after the law is enacted.

The WHO in fact recommends a alert needs to encompass at least 50% of the product container front “and seek to occupy as much of the principal display areas as possible”. Within Britain, warnings are required to occupy nearly two-thirds of a packet’s front and back.

Scented product controversy

The company seeks the removal of broad restrictions on flavoured tobacco products, claiming that it would drive users to “black market” products. It suggests restricting fewer varieties of “flavours based on desserts, candy, energy drinks, soft drinks and alcohol drinks”. All flavoured cigarettes have been banned in the UK since 2020.

The proposed legislation suggests penalties for multiple violations “ranging from a fraction of annual sales to ten-year jail sentences”.

Company justification

Through correspondence, the managing director of the African subsidiary states the corporation is focused on ethical business practices” and “backs the goals of governments to lower tobacco use and the related medical consequences” but asserts that “certain measures can have unwelcome and unexpected consequences.”

Activist reaction

The advocate stated the company's suggested modifications would “undermine this law so much that the necessary effect for it to produce permanent improvement in society will not be achieved”.

The reality that numerous similar measures existed in the UK, where the company maintains its main office, was “complete contradiction”, he commented.

“We reside in a global village. When I cultivate smoking products in my garden and collect the yield and market the products – and my offspring don't use tobacco, but my neighbor's family uses … to profit individually and all the future family lines while my community's youth are dying … is in itself absolute spiritual collapse.”

Tobacco control legislation in the United Kingdom or other countries had failed to shutter businesses, Chimbala said. “Regulations don't close the industry. They merely safeguard the people.”

Formal company response

The corporate communicator said: “The corporation runs its business in compliance with relevant national regulations. Additionally, the company participates in the state's regulatory development in line with the relevant frameworks which enable stakeholder participation in policymaking.”

The company was “not resisting legislation”, the representative commented, adding that young individuals should be protected from acquiring smoking products and nicotine.

“We support developing rules to achieve intended population health targets, while accepting the variety of rights and obligations on businesses, users and involved parties,” the spokesperson stated, mentioning that the company's suggestions “represent the situation of the local commercial environment and tobacco industry, which encompasses increasing amounts of illegal commerce”.

The country's office of economic activities and commercial operations was approached for comment.