🔗 Share this article

Critics have charged British American Tobacco with “utter hypocrisy” for opposing anti-smoking regulations in Africa which are already enforced in the UK.

Campaign in Zambia

A letter obtained by media dispatched by the company’s subsidiary in Zambia to the country’s government ministers requests plans to ban tobacco marketing and promotional activities to be scrapped or postponed.

The company is attempting modifications of a proposed legislation that include lowering the suggested dimensions of graphic health warnings on cigarette packaging, the withdrawal of controls on flavored smoking items, and watered-down penalties for any firms breaking the new laws.

Activist commentary

“Were I in government, I would say that they allow the safeguarding of the British people and sustain the fatalities of the Zambian people,” said the anti-tobacco campaigner.

Over seven thousand citizens a year succumb to cigarette-linked health conditions, according to global health agency statistics.

The campaigner stated the letter was believed to have been distributed to several government departments and was in circulating through community advocacy networks.

International corporate influence worries

The situation emerges alongside expanded apprehension about industry interference with public health regulations. Last month, WHO officials raised concerns that the cigarette manufacturers was escalating campaigns to undermine international regulations.

“Evidence exists of industry lobbying globally. Corporate signatures are on postponed duty hikes in Indonesia, halted laws in Zambia and even a weakened declaration at the UN high-level meeting,” said the tobacco industry watchdog.

Likely impacts

“Should anti-smoking legislation doesn't get enacted because of this letter, the cost might be borne in lives of people who might potentially stop smoking.”

The public health measure progressing through Zambia’s parliament includes measures that exceed UK legislation by including provisions for e-cigarettes, and stipulating that visual health alerts cover seventy-five percent of product packaging.

Corporate counter-proposals

Through correspondence, the company recommends this be decreased to thirty to fifty percent “following international suggested parameters”, deferred for no less than one year after the law is enacted.

The WHO in fact recommends a warning should cover at least half of the cigarette package face “and seek to occupy as much of the main visible surfaces as possible”. In the UK, warnings must cover 65% of a product container sides.

Flavored tobacco discussion

The corporation requests the elimination of comprehensive limitations on flavored cigarette varieties, suggesting that it would drive users to “illicitly sold” products. The corporation recommends restricting fewer varieties of “scents derived from desserts, candy, energy drinks, soft drinks and alcohol drinks”. Each flavored smoking item have been outlawed across the UK since 2020.

The pending regulation recommends punishments for various offences “extending from a fraction of annual sales to a decade in prison”.

Corporate defense

In the letter, the company executive of the Zambian branch states the firm is “committed to ethical business practices” and “endorses the aims of governments to decrease cigarette consumption and the related medical consequences” but asserts that “specific rules can have undesirable and unforeseen outcomes.”

Campaigner rebuttal

The campaigner argued the corporation's recommended amendments would “undermine this law so much that the required influence for it to produce permanent improvement in society will not be achieved”.

The reality that numerous similar measures existed in the UK, where the corporation is based, was “total double standard”, he said.

“We live in a global village. If I plant tobacco in my property and harvest that and sell it out – and my children do not consume tobacco, but my neighbor's family uses … to enrich myself and all the generations of my children while my community's youth are succumbing … is in itself absolute spiritual collapse.”

Tobacco control legislation in the United Kingdom or other countries had failed to shutter businesses, the advocate mentioned. “Legislation never shuts down the industry. It only protects the people.”

Formal company response

The corporate communicator said: “BAT Zambia conducts its operations according with relevant national regulations. Further, the corporation engages in the nation's lawmaking procedures in line with the appropriate structures which provide for stakeholder participation in regulation development.”

The corporation remained “not resisting legislation”, they said, adding that minors should be shielded from acquiring smoking products and nicotine.

“We support developing rules to achieve intended community wellbeing objectives, while recognizing the range of entitlements and duties on corporations, customers and associated groups,” the spokesperson stated, adding that the company's suggestions “reflect the realities of the African nation's economy and tobacco industry, which includes growing volumes of illicit trade”.

Zambia’s department of trade, commerce and industry was approached for comment.