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Critics have charged British American Tobacco with “total contradiction” for campaigning against anti-smoking regulations in Africa that are already in place in the UK.

Campaign in Zambia

A letter obtained by media sent from the corporation's branch in Zambia to the African officials demands plans to ban tobacco advertising and sponsorship to be abandoned or delayed.

The company is attempting amendments to a proposed legislation that include lowering the recommended coverage of visual health alerts on cigarette packaging, the elimination of limitations on flavoured tobacco products, and diminished punishments for any businesses disregarding the new laws.

Health advocate reaction

“As an elected official, I would say that they permit the protection 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 tobacco-related illnesses, according to WHO calculations.

The advocate mentioned the letter was believed to have been distributed to multiple official agencies and was in circulating through community advocacy networks.

Worldwide lobbying patterns

It comes amid wider concerns about business sector influence with medical guidelines. Last month, global health authorities raised concerns that the smoking product companies was intensifying efforts to dilute worldwide restrictions.

“We see evidence of corporate influence globally. Corporate signatures are on postponed duty hikes in Indonesia, stalled legislation in Zambia and even a compromised resolution at the UN summit conference,” commented the tobacco industry watchdog.

Potential consequences

“Should anti-smoking legislation doesn't get enacted because of this letter, the consequences may be suffered in lives of people who might potentially stop 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 graphic health warnings cover 75% of product packaging.

Business countermeasures

In the letter, BAT suggests this be decreased to 30% or 50% “within the WHO-FCTC recommended threshold”, delayed for at least twelve months after the bill passes.

Global health authorities in fact recommends a alert needs to encompass at least half of the front of a pack “and aim to cover as much of the principal display areas as possible”. In the UK, warnings need to encompass 65% of a packet’s front and back.

Scented product controversy

BAT asks for the withdrawal of extensive controls on flavored cigarette varieties, claiming that it would drive users to “illicitly sold” products. The corporation recommends prohibiting a smaller list of “flavours based on desserts, candy, energy drinks, soft drinks and alcohol drinks”. Every scented tobacco product have been outlawed across the UK since 2020.

The pending regulation proposes sanctions for multiple violations “varying from a percentage of annual turnover to a decade in prison”.

Corporate defense

Via documentation, the company executive of the Zambian branch states the firm is “committed to good corporate behaviour” and “backs the goals of governments to decrease cigarette consumption and the connected wellbeing effects” but asserts that “certain measures can have unwelcome and unexpected consequences.”

Critic response

Chimbala said the corporation's recommended amendments would “dilute these regulations so much that the necessary effect for it to produce permanent improvement in society will not be achieved”.

The circumstance that numerous similar measures were present in the UK, where BAT is headquartered, was “utter hypocrisy itself”, he stated.

“We reside in a connected world. If I plant tobacco in my garden and collect the yield and market the products – and my children do not consume tobacco, but my community's youth consumes … to enrich myself and all the subsequent offspring while my community's youth are succumbing … is in itself total emotional failure.”

Anti-smoking regulations in the UK or elsewhere had failed to shutter businesses, the advocate mentioned. “Laws don't eliminate the industry. They merely safeguard the people.”

Formal company response

The company representative commented: “BAT Zambia conducts its operations according with relevant national regulations. Further, the company participates in the nation's lawmaking procedures in line with the relevant frameworks which enable stakeholder participation in legislation creation.”

The company was “not against rules”, the spokesperson stated, mentioning that young individuals should be protected from obtaining cigarettes and nicotine.

“We support developing rules to achieve intended community wellbeing objectives, while recognizing the range of rights and obligations on industry, consumers and related stakeholders,” they said, adding that the company's suggestions “represent the situation of the Zambian market and tobacco industry, which includes rising levels of illegal commerce”.

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