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Critics have charged British American Tobacco with “total contradiction” for campaigning against tobacco control measures in Africa which are already enforced in the UK.

Zambian lobbying efforts

Correspondence acquired by reporters dispatched by the firm's affiliate in Zambia to the country’s government ministers requests proposals to prohibit tobacco marketing and promotional activities to be abandoned or delayed.

The company is attempting changes to a draft bill that include lowering the suggested dimensions of pictorial cautions on cigarette packaging, the withdrawal of controls on scented cigarette varieties, and watered-down penalties for any firms breaking the new laws.

Anti-tobacco campaigner response

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

Thousands of residents a year succumb to tobacco-related illnesses, according to global health agency statistics.

The advocate mentioned the letter was understood to have been copied to several government departments and was in circulation among public interest organizations.

Worldwide lobbying patterns

This occurs during expanded apprehension about corporate intervention with health policies. Last month, WHO officials raised concerns that the smoking product companies was intensifying efforts to dilute worldwide restrictions.

“We see evidence of business advocacy worldwide. Manufacturer hallmarks are on postponed duty hikes in Indonesia, delayed regulations in Zambia and even a compromised resolution at the UN high-level meeting,” stated the tobacco industry watchdog.

Potential consequences

“When public health regulation fails to be approved because of this letter, the consequences may be suffered in human lives who might possibly give up cigarettes.”

The anti-smoking legislation going through Zambia’s parliament includes measures that exceed UK legislation by also applying to e-cigarettes, and stipulating that graphic health warnings cover 75% of product packaging.

Business countermeasures

In the letter, the company recommends this be reduced to 30% or 50% “following international recommended threshold”, delayed for at least one year after the bill passes.

The WHO in fact recommends a alert needs to encompass at least fifty percent of the cigarette package face “and seek to occupy as much of the principal display areas as possible”. Across the United Kingdom, warnings are required to occupy 65% of a cigarette pack surfaces.

Flavored tobacco discussion

The corporation requests the withdrawal of extensive controls on flavored cigarette varieties, suggesting that it would push consumers toward “black market” products. It suggests restricting fewer varieties of “tastes inspired by desserts, candy, energy drinks, soft drinks and alcohol drinks”. All flavoured cigarettes have been prohibited in Britain since 2020.

The draft bill recommends punishments for multiple violations “extending from a percentage of annual turnover to 10 years’ imprisonment”.

Business explanation

In the letter, the corporate leader of the Zambian branch states the company is dedicated to good corporate behaviour” and “endorses the aims of governments to decrease cigarette consumption and the associated health impact” but maintains that “specific rules can have negative and unanticipated results.”

Critic response

The advocate stated the corporation's recommended amendments would “undermine this law so much that the impact needed for it to produce permanent improvement in society will not be achieved”.

The circumstance that many such provisions operated within the UK, where the company maintains its main office, was “utter hypocrisy itself”, he stated.

“We exist in a connected world. Should I grow cigarettes in my back yard and harvest that and distribute the goods – and my family members avoid tobacco, but my neighbour’s children do … to enrich myself and all the generations of my children while my community's youth are perishing … is in itself absolute spiritual failure.”

Public health laws in the United Kingdom or other countries had failed to shutter businesses, the campaigner stated. “Legislation never shuts down the industry. It only protects the people.”

Standard business position

A BAT Zambia spokesperson commented: “BAT Zambia conducts its activities following with applicable local laws. Further, the company participates in the state's regulatory development in line with the appropriate structures which allow for stakeholder participation in legislation creation.”

The company was “not resisting legislation”, the spokesperson stated, noting that minors should be safeguarded against access to tobacco and nicotine.

“We advocate for progressive regulation to accomplish desired community wellbeing objectives, while acknowledging the spectrum of entitlements and duties on businesses, users and involved parties,” they said, mentioning that the corporation's recommendations “reflect the realities of the Zambian market and cigarette sector, which includes rising levels of black market activity”.

The nation's ministry of business, commercial affairs and industrial development was contacted for response.