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British American Tobacco has been accused of “utter hypocrisy” for opposing tobacco control measures in Africa which are already enforced in the UK.

African regulatory opposition

Documents seen by journalists dispatched by the company’s subsidiary in Zambia to the African officials asks for plans to ban tobacco marketing and promotional activities to be canceled or deferred.

The tobacco firm seeks modifications of a draft bill that include lowering the recommended coverage of pictorial cautions on cigarette packaging, the elimination of limitations on flavoured tobacco products, and watered-down penalties for any firms breaking the new laws.

Health advocate reaction

“If I was a politician, I would say that they enable the defense of the British people and continue the mortality of the Zambian people,” said the health advocate.

Over seven thousand citizens a year succumb to smoking-associated diseases, according to WHO calculations.

The advocate mentioned the letter was believed to have been distributed to several government departments and was in circulating through public interest organizations.

International corporate influence worries

This occurs during expanded apprehension about corporate intervention with public health regulations. In recent weeks, international health experts sounded an alarm that the smoking product companies was increasing attempts to undermine international regulations.

“Evidence exists of industry lobbying worldwide. Tobacco company fingerprints are on deferred levy rises in Indonesia, delayed regulations in Zambia and even a weakened declaration at the UN high-level meeting,” stated the corporate monitoring director.

Possible outcomes

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

The tobacco control bill progressing through Zambia’s parliament includes measures that exceed UK legislation by including provisions for e-cigarettes, and stipulating that visual health alerts cover 75% of product packaging.

Corporate counter-proposals

Through correspondence, the company recommends this be decreased to 30% or 50% “according to global guideline limits”, deferred for no less than 12 months after the bill passes.

Global health authorities in fact recommends a warning should cover at least fifty percent of the product container front “and aim to cover as much of the principal display areas as possible”. Within Britain, warnings must cover sixty-five percent of a packet’s front and back.

Flavored tobacco discussion

The company seeks the elimination of comprehensive limitations on flavored cigarette varieties, arguing that it would lead smokers to “illegally traded” products. It suggests prohibiting a smaller list of “scents derived from desserts, candy, energy drinks, soft drinks and alcohol drinks”. Every scented tobacco product have been prohibited in Britain since 2020.

The draft bill recommends punishments for different infractions “ranging from a fraction of annual sales to a decade in prison”.

Business explanation

Through correspondence, the managing director of British American Tobacco Zambia claims the company is dedicated to good corporate behaviour” and “endorses the aims of governments to reduce smoking incidence and the related medical consequences” but claims that “specific rules can have unwelcome and unexpected consequences.”

Activist reaction

The campaigner argued BAT’s proposed changes would “weaken this legislation so much that the required influence for it to cause long-term change in society will not be achieved”.

The circumstance that many such provisions operated within the UK, where BAT is headquartered, was “utter hypocrisy itself”, he said.

“We live in a global village. Should I grow cigarettes in my garden and harvest that and distribute the goods – and my offspring don't use tobacco, but my neighbor's family uses … to profit individually and all the future family lines while my community's youth are succumbing … is in itself complete moral collapse.”

Tobacco control legislation in the UK or elsewhere had failed to shutter businesses, Chimbala said. “Laws don't eliminate the industry. It only protects the people.”

Standard business position

A BAT Zambia spokesperson commented: “BAT Zambia conducts its business in compliance with relevant national regulations. Further, the company participates in the state's regulatory development in line with the appropriate structures which provide for stakeholder participation in policymaking.”

The firm positioned itself as “not opposed to regulation”, the representative commented, mentioning that young individuals should be safeguarded against access to tobacco and nicotine.

“We advocate for evolving legislation to realize planned population health targets, while acknowledging the spectrum of entitlements and duties on businesses, users and involved parties,” they said, noting that BAT’s proposals “reflect the realities of the African nation's economy and tobacco industry, which includes increasing amounts of black market activity”.

The nation's ministry of trade, commerce and industry was solicited for statement.