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

African regulatory opposition

A letter obtained by media originating from the firm's affiliate in Zambia to the nation's political leaders requests measures restricting tobacco marketing and promotional activities to be scrapped or postponed.

The company is attempting changes to a pending law that include decreasing the proposed size of visual health alerts on cigarette packaging, the elimination of limitations on flavoured tobacco products, and watered-down penalties for any firms breaking the new laws.

Anti-tobacco campaigner response

“If I was a politician, I would say that they enable the defense of the British people and sustain the fatalities of the Zambian people,” commented the health advocate.

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

Chimbala said the letter was believed to have been distributed to various ministerial offices and was in distribution within civil society groups.

International corporate influence worries

This occurs during wider concerns about business sector influence with medical guidelines. Last month, global health authorities issued a warning that the smoking product companies was intensifying efforts to dilute worldwide restrictions.

“We see evidence of industry lobbying worldwide. Corporate signatures are on delayed tax increases in Indonesia, stalled legislation in Zambia and even a compromised resolution at the UN international gathering,” stated the corporate monitoring director.

Likely impacts

“When public health regulation doesn't get enacted because of this letter, the price could be paid in human lives who might possibly give up cigarettes.”

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

Corporate counter-proposals

Through correspondence, the corporation proposes this be decreased to less than half “within the WHO-FCTC suggested parameters”, deferred for no less than 12 months after the law is enacted.

Global health authorities actually suggests a caution must occupy 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 packet’s front and back.

Scented product controversy

The corporation requests the removal of broad restrictions on flavored cigarette varieties, suggesting that it would push consumers toward “illicitly sold” products. The company proposes restricting fewer varieties of “flavours based on desserts, candy, energy drinks, soft drinks and alcohol drinks”. Each flavored smoking item have been banned in the UK since 2020.

The proposed legislation recommends punishments for multiple violations “extending from a percentage of annual turnover to a decade in prison”.

Corporate defense

Via documentation, the company executive of the African subsidiary says the corporation is focused on ethical business practices” and “endorses the aims of governments to decrease cigarette consumption and the associated health impact” but asserts that “some regulations can have negative and unanticipated results.”

Campaigner rebuttal

Chimbala said the company's suggested modifications would “dilute these regulations so much that the required influence for it to cause long-term change in society will not be achieved”.

The circumstance that multiple comparable regulations were present in the UK, where BAT is headquartered, was “utter hypocrisy itself”, he commented.

“We exist in a global village. When I cultivate smoking products in my property and collect the yield and sell it out – and my offspring don't use tobacco, but my neighbor's family uses … to enrich myself and all the generations of my children while my neighbor's family are succumbing … is in itself complete moral collapse.”

Tobacco control legislation in the UK or elsewhere had not resulted in corporate closures, the campaigner stated. “Regulations don't close the industry. They merely safeguard the people.”

Official corporate statement

A BAT Zambia spokesperson commented: “BAT Zambia conducts its activities following with relevant national regulations. Further, the company participates in the nation's lawmaking procedures in line with the relevant frameworks which enable stakeholder participation in regulation development.”

The company was “not against rules”, they said, noting that minors should be shielded from acquiring smoking products and nicotine.

“We advocate for evolving legislation to realize planned public health goals, while accepting the variety of privileges and responsibilities on businesses, users and involved parties,” the representative explained, mentioning that BAT’s proposals “mirror the circumstances of the local commercial environment and cigarette sector, which involves increasing amounts of illegal commerce”.

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