🔗 Share this article

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

African regulatory opposition

A letter obtained by media sent from the company’s subsidiary in Zambia to the country’s government ministers requests plans to ban tobacco marketing and promotional activities to be canceled or deferred.

The corporation is pursuing amendments to a pending law that include decreasing the proposed size of graphic health warnings on cigarette packaging, the removal of restrictions on flavoured tobacco products, and watered-down penalties for any firms breaking the new laws.

Health advocate reaction

“Were I in government, I would say that they enable the defense of the British people and perpetuate the death of the Zambian people,” said the health advocate.

Thousands of residents a year pass away from smoking-associated diseases, according to World Health Organization estimates.

Chimbala said the letter was known to have been circulated to several government departments and was in distribution within public interest organizations.

Global industry interference concerns

It comes amid wider concerns about corporate intervention with health policies. In recent weeks, global health authorities issued a warning that the smoking product companies was increasing attempts to undermine international regulations.

“There is proof of industry lobbying everywhere. Manufacturer hallmarks are on deferred levy rises in Indonesia, halted laws in Zambia and even a weakened declaration at the UN high-level meeting,” said the corporate monitoring director.

Potential consequences

“If a tobacco control measure isn’t passed because of this letter, the cost might be borne in lives of people who might possibly give up cigarettes.”

The tobacco control bill progressing through Zambia’s parliament includes regulations surpassing UK legislation by extending coverage to e-cigarettes, and requiring that visual health alerts cover 75% of product packaging.

Company alternative suggestions

In the letter, the company recommends this be lowered to less than half “within the WHO-FCTC guideline limits”, delayed for at least twelve months after the law is enacted.

International experts actually suggests a warning should cover at least 50% of the cigarette package face “and seek to occupy as much of the main visible surfaces as possible”. Across the United Kingdom, warnings are required to occupy nearly two-thirds of a packet’s front and back.

Scented product controversy

BAT asks for the withdrawal of extensive controls on flavored cigarette varieties, arguing that it would push consumers toward “black market” products. The corporation recommends restricting fewer varieties of “tastes inspired by desserts, candy, energy drinks, soft drinks and alcohol drinks”. Every scented tobacco product have been outlawed across the UK since 2020.

The proposed legislation suggests penalties for multiple violations “varying from a percentage of annual turnover to a decade in prison”.

Corporate defense

Through correspondence, the corporate leader of the Zambian branch says the company is dedicated to responsible corporate conduct” and “endorses the aims of governments to lower tobacco use and the related medical consequences” but asserts that “specific rules can have undesirable and unforeseen outcomes.”

Campaigner rebuttal

The campaigner argued BAT’s proposed changes would “dilute these regulations so much that the required influence for it to produce permanent improvement in society will not be achieved”.

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

“We reside in a global village. Should I grow cigarettes in my back yard and collect the yield and sell it out – and my children do not consume tobacco, but my neighbour’s children do … to profit individually and all the generations of my children while my neighbor's family are dying … is in itself total emotional bankruptcy.”

Anti-smoking regulations in the United Kingdom or other countries had not caused companies to close, Chimbala said. “Regulations don't close the industry. They merely safeguard the people.”

Formal company response

A BAT Zambia spokesperson stated: “The corporation runs its activities following with applicable local laws. Further, the corporation engages in the nation's lawmaking procedures in line with the relevant frameworks which provide for relevant group engagement in legislation creation.”

The company was “not opposed to regulation”, the representative commented, mentioning that young individuals should be shielded from obtaining cigarettes and nicotine.

“We advocate for progressive regulation to achieve intended population health targets, while acknowledging the spectrum of rights and obligations on corporations, customers and associated groups,” the spokesperson stated, mentioning that the company's suggestions “represent the situation of the African nation's economy and smoking product business, which encompasses growing volumes of illicit trade”.

Zambia’s department of business, commercial affairs and industrial development was contacted for response.