🔗 Share this article

Critics have charged British American Tobacco with “complete double standards” for opposing tobacco control measures in Africa that are already in place in the UK.

African regulatory opposition

Documents seen by journalists dispatched by the corporation's branch in Zambia to the African officials requests plans to ban tobacco marketing and promotional activities to be scrapped or postponed.

The corporation is pursuing amendments to a draft bill that include lowering the recommended coverage of graphic health warnings on cigarette packaging, the withdrawal of controls on flavoured tobacco products, and watered-down penalties for any businesses disregarding the new laws.

Anti-tobacco campaigner response

“If I was a politician, 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.

Over seven thousand citizens a year pass away from smoking-associated diseases, according to global health agency statistics.

The advocate mentioned the letter was known to have been circulated to several government departments and was in circulating through community advocacy networks.

Global industry interference concerns

The situation emerges alongside broader worries about corporate intervention with health policies. Recently, global health authorities raised concerns that the tobacco industry was escalating campaigns to weaken global control measures.

“Evidence exists of industry lobbying worldwide. Manufacturer hallmarks are on deferred levy rises in Indonesia, halted laws in Zambia and even a weakened declaration at the UN summit conference,” commented Jorge Alday.

Potential consequences

“Should anti-smoking legislation fails to be approved because of this letter, the price could be paid in lives of people 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 visual health alerts cover three-quarters of product packaging.

Company alternative suggestions

In the letter, the corporation proposes this be lowered to less than half “according to global recommended threshold”, postponed for minimum one year after the bill passes.

The WHO specifically advises a caution must occupy at least 50% of the front of a pack “and attempt to encompass as much of the main visible surfaces as possible”. In the UK, warnings must cover sixty-five percent of a packet’s front and back.

Flavor restrictions debate

The corporation requests the removal of broad restrictions on flavored cigarette varieties, claiming that it would drive users to “illicitly sold” products. It suggests banning a limited selection of “scents derived from desserts, candy, energy drinks, soft drinks and alcohol drinks”. All flavoured cigarettes have been prohibited in Britain since 2020.

The proposed legislation recommends punishments for multiple violations “extending from a percentage of annual turnover to a decade in prison”.

Company justification

Through correspondence, the company executive of the Zambian branch states the firm is “committed to ethical business practices” and “backs the goals of governments to decrease cigarette consumption and the associated health impact” but maintains that “specific rules can have negative and unanticipated results.”

Campaigner rebuttal

The campaigner argued BAT’s proposed changes 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 were present in the UK, where the company maintains its main office, was “utter hypocrisy itself”, he stated.

“We reside in a international community. Should I grow cigarettes in my back yard and gather the crop and sell it out – and my offspring don't use tobacco, but my community's youth consumes … to benefit personally and all the generations of my children while my neighbour’s children are dying … is in itself absolute spiritual collapse.”

Public health laws in the United Kingdom or other countries had not caused companies to close, Chimbala said. “Laws don't eliminate the industry. It only protects the people.”

Standard business position

The company representative stated: “The company operates its operations according with relevant national regulations. Further, the corporation engages in the nation's lawmaking procedures in line with the suitable systems which enable stakeholder participation in regulation development.”

The firm positioned itself as “not opposed to regulation”, the representative commented, adding that young individuals should be safeguarded against access to tobacco and nicotine.

“We support evolving legislation to realize planned population health targets, while acknowledging the spectrum of entitlements and duties on corporations, customers and associated groups,” the representative explained, adding that BAT’s proposals “reflect the realities of the local commercial environment and cigarette sector, which includes growing volumes of illicit trade”.

Zambia’s department of business, commercial affairs and industrial development was approached for comment.