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British American Tobacco has been accused of “total contradiction” for lobbying against tobacco control measures in Africa that are already in place in the UK.

African regulatory opposition

Correspondence acquired by reporters sent from the firm's affiliate in Zambia to the nation's political leaders demands plans to ban tobacco marketing and promotional activities to be scrapped or postponed.

The corporation is pursuing changes to a draft bill that include decreasing the suggested dimensions of pictorial cautions on cigarette packaging, the removal of restrictions on scented cigarette varieties, and watered-down penalties for any companies violating the new laws.

Anti-tobacco campaigner response

“As an elected official, I would say that they enable the defense of the British people and perpetuate the death of the Zambian people,” commented the anti-tobacco campaigner.

More than 7,000 Zambians a year die from cigarette-linked health conditions, according to WHO calculations.

Chimbala said the letter was known to have been circulated to various ministerial offices and was in circulating through public interest organizations.

Global industry interference concerns

It comes amid expanded apprehension about business sector influence with public health regulations. Last month, global health authorities raised concerns that the tobacco industry was intensifying efforts to dilute worldwide restrictions.

“Evidence exists of industry lobbying everywhere. Tobacco company fingerprints are on delayed tax increases in Indonesia, delayed regulations in Zambia and even a diluted statement at the UN summit conference,” stated the corporate monitoring director.

Likely impacts

“When public health regulation isn’t passed because of this letter, the price could be paid in lives of people who might otherwise quit smoking.”

The public health measure going through Zambia’s parliament includes measures that exceed UK legislation by also applying to e-cigarettes, and requiring that pictorial cautions cover seventy-five percent of product packaging.

Corporate counter-proposals

Through correspondence, the company recommends this be lowered to less than half “following international suggested parameters”, deferred for no less than twelve months after the bill passes.

Global health authorities actually suggests a warning should cover at least fifty percent of the product container front “and aim to cover as much of the primary showing sections as possible”. Across the United Kingdom, warnings are required to occupy nearly two-thirds of a cigarette pack surfaces.

Flavored tobacco discussion

The corporation requests the withdrawal of extensive controls on scented smoking items, suggesting that it would push consumers toward “black market” products. It suggests banning a limited selection of “flavours based on desserts, candy, energy drinks, soft drinks and alcohol drinks”. All flavoured cigarettes have been banned in the UK since 2020.

The proposed legislation proposes sanctions for various offences “varying from a portion of yearly revenue to ten-year jail sentences”.

Business explanation

Via documentation, the company executive of the African subsidiary says the corporation is focused on ethical business practices” and “supports the objectives of governments to lower tobacco use and the related medical consequences” but asserts that “specific rules can have negative and unanticipated results.”

Activist reaction

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 circumstance that multiple comparable regulations operated within the UK, where the corporation is based, was “complete contradiction”, he stated.

“We exist in a international community. If I plant tobacco 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 community's youth are perishing … is in itself absolute spiritual failure.”

Tobacco control legislation in the UK or elsewhere had failed to shutter businesses, the campaigner stated. “Legislation never shuts down the industry. Measures simply defend the people.”

Official corporate statement

The corporate communicator stated: “BAT Zambia conducts its business in compliance with relevant national regulations. Moreover, the corporation engages in the country’s legislative process in line with the suitable systems which enable stakeholder participation in regulation development.”

The firm positioned itself as “not opposed to regulation”, the spokesperson stated, adding that underage people should be protected from access to tobacco and nicotine.

“We advocate for developing rules to realize planned population health targets, while acknowledging the spectrum of entitlements and duties on businesses, users and involved parties,” the spokesperson stated, adding that BAT’s proposals “represent the situation of the African nation's economy and tobacco industry, which encompasses increasing amounts of illicit trade”.

The country's office of economic activities and commercial operations was contacted for response.