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The tobacco company stands accused of “total contradiction” for lobbying against anti-smoking regulations in Africa that currently exist in the UK.

Zambian lobbying efforts

Documents seen by journalists dispatched by the corporation's branch in Zambia to the country’s government ministers demands measures restricting tobacco marketing and promotional activities to be scrapped or postponed.

The corporation is pursuing changes to a pending law 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 firms breaking the new laws.

Health advocate reaction

“If I was a politician, I would say that they allow the safeguarding of the British people and continue the mortality of the Zambian people,” stated Master Chimbala.

Over seven thousand citizens a year pass away from cigarette-linked health conditions, according to WHO calculations.

The advocate mentioned the letter was known to have been circulated to multiple official agencies and was in circulating through civil society groups.

International corporate influence worries

This occurs during wider concerns about corporate intervention with health policies. Recently, global health authorities raised concerns that the tobacco industry was escalating campaigns to undermine international regulations.

“Evidence exists of corporate influence globally. Tobacco company fingerprints are on delayed tax increases in Indonesia, delayed regulations in Zambia and even a diluted statement at the UN high-level meeting,” said the tobacco industry watchdog.

Likely impacts

“When public health regulation doesn't get enacted because of this letter, the consequences may be suffered in lives of people who might otherwise quit smoking.”

The public health measure progressing through Zambia’s parliament includes regulations surpassing UK legislation by also applying to e-cigarettes, and mandating that visual health alerts cover 75% of product packaging.

Corporate counter-proposals

In the letter, BAT suggests this be decreased to less than half “within the WHO-FCTC guideline limits”, deferred for no less than twelve months after the law is enacted.

The WHO actually suggests a warning should cover at least 50% of the cigarette package face “and attempt to encompass as much of the principal display areas as possible”. Across the United Kingdom, warnings must cover nearly two-thirds of a packet’s front and back.

Flavor restrictions debate

The company seeks the elimination of comprehensive limitations on flavored cigarette varieties, claiming that it would drive users to “illicitly sold” products. The corporation recommends prohibiting a smaller list of “tastes inspired by desserts, candy, energy drinks, soft drinks and alcohol drinks”. Each flavored smoking item have been prohibited in Britain since 2020.

The proposed legislation proposes sanctions for multiple violations “ranging from a percentage of annual turnover to a decade in prison”.

Company justification

In the letter, the corporate leader of British American Tobacco Zambia states the firm is “committed to responsible corporate conduct” and “supports the objectives of governments to lower tobacco use and the associated health impact” but maintains that “specific rules can have undesirable and unforeseen outcomes.”

Campaigner rebuttal

The campaigner argued BAT’s proposed changes would “weaken this legislation 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 “utter hypocrisy itself”, he commented.

“We live in a international community. When I cultivate smoking products in my back yard and collect the yield and distribute the goods – and my children do not consume tobacco, but my neighbor's family uses … to benefit personally and all the subsequent offspring while my neighbour’s children are perishing … is in itself absolute spiritual failure.”

Anti-smoking regulations in the Britain or other nations had not caused companies to close, the campaigner stated. “Legislation never shuts down the industry. It only protects the people.”

Standard business position

The corporate communicator said: “The company operates its business in compliance with relevant national regulations. Additionally, the company participates in the state's regulatory development in line with the appropriate structures which provide for relevant group engagement in regulation development.”

The company was “not against rules”, the representative commented, adding that minors should be safeguarded against acquiring smoking products and nicotine.

“We advocate for developing rules to accomplish desired community wellbeing objectives, while recognizing the range of rights and obligations on businesses, users and involved parties,” the representative explained, adding that the corporation's recommendations “represent the situation of the local commercial environment and smoking product business, which involves increasing amounts of black market activity”.

The country's office of trade, commerce and industry was solicited for statement.