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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

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

The company is attempting amendments to a draft bill that include reductions in the suggested dimensions of pictorial cautions on cigarette packaging, the withdrawal of controls on flavoured tobacco products, and diminished punishments for any businesses disregarding the new laws.

Activist commentary

“Were I in government, I would say that they allow the safeguarding of the British people and perpetuate the death of the Zambian people,” commented the health advocate.

Thousands of residents a year succumb to cigarette-linked health conditions, according to WHO calculations.

The campaigner stated the letter was believed to have been distributed to various ministerial offices and was in distribution within civil society groups.

Worldwide lobbying patterns

The situation emerges alongside expanded apprehension about business sector influence with public health regulations. Recently, WHO officials issued a warning that the cigarette manufacturers was intensifying efforts to weaken global control measures.

“We see evidence of business advocacy everywhere. Corporate signatures are on postponed duty hikes in Indonesia, stalled legislation in Zambia and even a compromised resolution at the UN high-level meeting,” commented the corporate monitoring director.

Possible outcomes

“Should anti-smoking legislation doesn't get enacted because of this letter, the consequences may be suffered in human lives who might possibly give up cigarettes.”

The tobacco control bill going through Zambia’s parliament includes proposals to go further UK legislation by extending coverage to e-cigarettes, and mandating that pictorial cautions cover seventy-five percent of product packaging.

Corporate counter-proposals

Via documentation, BAT suggests this be reduced to 30% or 50% “according to global guideline limits”, delayed for at least twelve months after the legislation is approved.

Global health authorities specifically advises a warning should cover at least 50% of the front of a pack “and aim to cover as much of the principal display areas as possible”. Across the United Kingdom, warnings need to encompass sixty-five percent of a product container sides.

Scented product controversy

BAT asks for the withdrawal of extensive controls on flavored cigarette varieties, arguing that it would lead smokers to “illicitly sold” products. The corporation recommends prohibiting a smaller list of “scents derived from desserts, candy, energy drinks, soft drinks and alcohol drinks”. Each flavored smoking item have been prohibited in Britain since 2020.

The draft bill proposes sanctions for different infractions “varying from a fraction of annual sales to a decade in prison”.

Business explanation

Via documentation, the corporate leader of British American Tobacco Zambia says the company is dedicated to ethical business practices” and “backs the goals of governments to lower tobacco use and the associated health impact” but asserts that “some regulations can have negative and unanticipated results.”

Campaigner rebuttal

The advocate stated BAT’s proposed changes 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 many such provisions were present in the UK, where BAT is headquartered, was “utter hypocrisy itself”, he stated.

“We exist in a connected world. When I cultivate smoking products in my back yard and collect the yield and distribute the goods – and my children do not consume tobacco, but my community's youth consumes … to profit individually and all the subsequent offspring while my neighbor's family are succumbing … is in itself total emotional failure.”

Anti-smoking regulations in the UK or elsewhere had not resulted in corporate closures, the campaigner stated. “Legislation never shuts down the industry. Measures simply defend the people.”

Formal company response

A BAT Zambia spokesperson said: “The corporation runs its operations according with applicable local laws. Additionally, the company participates in the country’s legislative process in line with the appropriate structures which provide for relevant group engagement in legislation creation.”

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

“We advocate for developing rules to realize planned population health targets, while accepting the variety of rights and obligations on industry, consumers and related stakeholders,” the representative explained, adding that BAT’s proposals “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 contacted for response.