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Critics have charged British American Tobacco with “complete double standards” for lobbying against anti-smoking regulations in Africa that are already in place in the UK.

Zambian lobbying efforts

Documents seen by journalists sent from the firm's affiliate in Zambia to the country’s government ministers asks for measures restricting tobacco advertising and sponsorship to be scrapped or postponed.

The corporation is pursuing modifications of a pending law that include lowering the recommended coverage of visual health alerts on cigarette packaging, the removal of restrictions on flavoured tobacco products, and diminished punishments for any firms breaking the new laws.

Anti-tobacco campaigner response

“Were I in government, I would say that they enable the defense of the British people and continue the mortality of the Zambian people,” stated the anti-tobacco campaigner.

More than 7,000 Zambians a year succumb to tobacco-related illnesses, according to World Health Organization estimates.

Chimbala said the letter was understood to have been copied to several government departments and was in distribution within civil society groups.

International corporate influence worries

This occurs during broader worries about industry interference with medical guidelines. In recent weeks, global health authorities sounded an alarm that the tobacco industry was intensifying efforts to undermine international regulations.

“We see evidence of business advocacy everywhere. Corporate signatures are on deferred levy rises in Indonesia, halted laws in Zambia and even a compromised resolution at the UN high-level meeting,” stated Jorge Alday.

Likely impacts

“Should anti-smoking legislation doesn't get enacted because of this letter, the price could be paid in individuals' health who might potentially stop smoking.”

The public health measure going through Zambia’s parliament includes regulations surpassing UK legislation by including provisions for e-cigarettes, and requiring that pictorial cautions cover three-quarters of product packaging.

Business countermeasures

Through correspondence, the corporation proposes this be lowered to 30% or 50% “within the WHO-FCTC guideline limits”, deferred for no less than twelve months after the law is enacted.

Global health authorities actually suggests a warning should cover at least half of the front of a pack “and seek to occupy as much of the principal display areas as possible”. In the UK, warnings need to encompass 65% of a product container sides.

Flavor restrictions debate

The corporation requests the removal of broad restrictions on flavoured tobacco products, arguing that it would push consumers toward “illegally traded” products. The company proposes banning a limited selection of “tastes inspired by desserts, candy, energy drinks, soft drinks and alcohol drinks”. Each flavored smoking item have been banned in the UK since 2020.

The pending regulation recommends punishments for multiple violations “extending from a fraction of annual sales to 10 years’ imprisonment”.

Company justification

Through correspondence, the corporate leader of the African subsidiary says the corporation is focused on ethical business practices” and “supports the objectives of governments to decrease cigarette consumption and the related medical consequences” but maintains that “some regulations can have unwelcome and unexpected consequences.”

Activist reaction

Chimbala said BAT’s proposed changes would “undermine this law so much that the required influence for it to create lasting transformation in society will not be achieved”.

The fact that many such provisions were present in the UK, where BAT is headquartered, was “utter hypocrisy itself”, he stated.

“We live in a connected world. If I plant tobacco in my property and collect the yield and distribute the goods – and my children do not consume tobacco, but my community's youth consumes … to benefit personally and all the generations of my children while my community's youth are perishing … is in itself complete moral bankruptcy.”

Tobacco control legislation in the Britain or other nations had not caused companies to close, the advocate mentioned. “Legislation never shuts down the industry. It only protects the people.”

Standard business position

The company representative commented: “The corporation runs its business in compliance with relevant national regulations. Further, the firm contributes in the nation's lawmaking procedures in line with the suitable systems which provide for interested party involvement in regulation development.”

The corporation remained “not resisting legislation”, the spokesperson stated, mentioning that underage people should be shielded from obtaining cigarettes and nicotine.

“We champion progressive regulation to realize planned population health targets, while accepting the variety of entitlements and duties on corporations, customers and associated groups,” they said, noting that the company's suggestions “represent the situation of the local commercial environment and smoking product business, which involves growing volumes of illegal commerce”.

The nation's ministry of trade, commerce and industry was approached for comment.