🔗 Share this article

Critics have charged British American Tobacco with “complete double standards” for campaigning against anti-smoking regulations in Africa which are already enforced in the UK.

African regulatory opposition

A letter obtained by media originating from the company’s subsidiary in Zambia to the African officials demands measures restricting tobacco marketing and promotional activities to be canceled or deferred.

The company is attempting amendments to a pending law that include lowering the proposed size of graphic health warnings on cigarette packaging, the withdrawal of controls on scented cigarette varieties, and diminished punishments for any companies violating the new laws.

Activist commentary

“If I was a politician, I would say that they permit the protection 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 smoking-associated diseases, according to WHO calculations.

Chimbala said the letter was understood to have been copied to several government departments and was in distribution within community advocacy networks.

International corporate influence worries

It comes amid wider concerns about corporate intervention with public health regulations. Last month, international health experts issued a warning that the smoking product companies was intensifying efforts to undermine international regulations.

“There is proof of business advocacy everywhere. Tobacco company fingerprints are on postponed duty hikes in Indonesia, delayed regulations in Zambia and even a diluted statement at the UN international gathering,” stated the corporate monitoring director.

Possible outcomes

“Should anti-smoking legislation fails to be approved because of this letter, the cost might be borne in human lives who might potentially stop smoking.”

The tobacco control bill going through Zambia’s parliament includes regulations surpassing UK legislation by also applying to e-cigarettes, and requiring that visual health alerts cover three-quarters of product packaging.

Business countermeasures

Through correspondence, the corporation proposes this be lowered to 30% or 50% “according to global recommended threshold”, delayed for at least twelve months after the law is enacted.

Global health authorities specifically advises a caution must occupy at least fifty percent of the cigarette package face “and seek to occupy as much of the main visible surfaces as possible”. Within Britain, warnings are required to occupy nearly two-thirds of a product container sides.

Scented product controversy

The corporation requests the removal of broad restrictions on flavoured tobacco products, arguing that it would push consumers toward “black market” products. The company proposes prohibiting a smaller list 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 draft bill suggests penalties for various offences “ranging from a portion of yearly revenue to 10 years’ imprisonment”.

Company justification

Via documentation, the corporate leader of the Zambian branch claims the corporation is focused on good corporate behaviour” and “backs the goals of governments to reduce smoking incidence and the related medical consequences” but maintains that “specific rules can have unwelcome and unexpected consequences.”

Campaigner rebuttal

The advocate stated the corporation's recommended amendments would “weaken this legislation so much that the impact needed 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 the corporation is based, was “complete contradiction”, he said.

“We reside in a international community. When I cultivate smoking products in my back yard and gather the crop and market the products – and my offspring don't use tobacco, but my neighbor's family uses … to benefit personally and all the subsequent offspring while my community's youth are dying … is in itself total emotional bankruptcy.”

Public health laws in the UK or elsewhere had not resulted in corporate closures, Chimbala said. “Legislation never shuts down the industry. It only protects the people.”

Formal company response

The corporate communicator stated: “The company operates its activities following with current country statutes. Moreover, the firm contributes in the nation's lawmaking procedures in line with the relevant frameworks which allow for stakeholder participation in regulation development.”

The corporation remained “not resisting legislation”, the spokesperson stated, mentioning that young individuals should be protected from acquiring smoking products and nicotine.

“We support developing rules to accomplish desired population health targets, while acknowledging the spectrum of rights and obligations on businesses, users and involved parties,” they said, mentioning that the corporation's recommendations “represent the situation of the African nation's economy and smoking product business, which includes growing volumes of illegal commerce”.

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