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Critics have charged British American Tobacco with “complete double standards” for lobbying against tobacco control measures in Africa that currently exist in the UK.

Zambian lobbying efforts

Correspondence acquired by reporters dispatched by the firm's affiliate in Zambia to the African officials asks for measures restricting tobacco marketing and promotional activities to be scrapped or postponed.

The corporation is pursuing changes to a proposed legislation that include decreasing the recommended coverage of visual health alerts on cigarette packaging, the withdrawal of controls on scented cigarette varieties, and watered-down penalties for any businesses disregarding the new laws.

Activist commentary

“Were I in government, I would say that they permit the protection of the British people and continue the mortality of the Zambian people,” stated the health advocate.

Over seven thousand citizens a year die from tobacco-related illnesses, according to WHO calculations.

The advocate mentioned the letter was understood to have been copied to various ministerial offices and was in distribution within community advocacy networks.

Global industry interference concerns

This occurs during broader worries about industry interference with medical guidelines. Last month, international health experts sounded an alarm that the smoking product companies was intensifying efforts to undermine international regulations.

“Evidence exists of industry lobbying globally. Manufacturer hallmarks are on delayed tax increases in Indonesia, delayed regulations in Zambia and even a weakened declaration at the UN international gathering,” commented the corporate monitoring director.

Potential consequences

“When public health regulation doesn't get enacted because of this letter, the price could be paid in human lives who might otherwise quit smoking.”

The public health measure going through Zambia’s parliament includes proposals to go further UK legislation by extending coverage to e-cigarettes, and mandating that pictorial cautions cover seventy-five percent of product packaging.

Business countermeasures

In the letter, BAT suggests this be lowered to less than half “according to global guideline limits”, delayed for at least twelve months after the bill passes.

The WHO in fact recommends a caution must occupy at least half of the front of a pack “and aim to cover as much of the principal display areas as possible”. Across the United Kingdom, warnings need to encompass nearly two-thirds of a product container sides.

Flavor restrictions debate

BAT asks for the withdrawal of extensive controls on flavoured tobacco products, suggesting that it would lead smokers to “illicitly sold” products. It suggests restricting fewer varieties of “tastes inspired by 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 multiple violations “varying from a percentage of annual turnover to a decade in prison”.

Business explanation

Through correspondence, the managing director of British American Tobacco Zambia states the company is dedicated to good corporate behaviour” and “backs the goals of governments to lower tobacco use and the associated health impact” but claims that “certain measures can have negative and unanticipated results.”

Campaigner rebuttal

The campaigner argued the corporation's recommended amendments would “weaken this legislation so much that the required influence for it to cause long-term change in society will not be achieved”.

The circumstance that many such provisions existed in the UK, where the company maintains its main office, was “complete contradiction”, he stated.

“We live in a global village. Should I grow cigarettes in my property and collect the yield and sell it out – and my children do not consume tobacco, but my neighbour’s children do … to profit individually and all the subsequent offspring while my neighbour’s children are perishing … is in itself complete moral collapse.”

Tobacco control legislation in the Britain or other nations had failed to shutter businesses, the campaigner stated. “Regulations don't close the industry. It only protects the people.”

Official corporate statement

A BAT Zambia spokesperson stated: “The company operates its activities following with relevant national regulations. Moreover, the company participates in the nation's lawmaking procedures in line with the appropriate structures which allow for stakeholder participation in legislation creation.”

The corporation remained “not opposed to regulation”, the representative commented, mentioning that underage people should be protected from acquiring smoking products and nicotine.

“We support evolving legislation to achieve intended population health targets, while recognizing the range of entitlements and duties on businesses, users and involved parties,” the spokesperson stated, mentioning that BAT’s proposals “represent the situation of the local commercial environment and tobacco industry, which encompasses increasing amounts of illicit trade”.

The country's office of economic activities and commercial operations was contacted for response.