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The tobacco company stands accused of “complete double standards” for lobbying against anti-smoking regulations in Africa which are already enforced in the UK.

Campaign in Zambia

Documents seen by journalists sent from the company’s subsidiary in Zambia to the African officials asks for measures restricting tobacco advertising and sponsorship to be scrapped or postponed.

The corporation is pursuing amendments to a pending law that include lowering the proposed size of visual health alerts 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,” said the health advocate.

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

The campaigner stated the letter was known to have been circulated to multiple official agencies and was in distribution within community advocacy networks.

Worldwide lobbying patterns

The situation emerges alongside broader worries about industry interference with health policies. Last month, WHO officials raised concerns that the tobacco industry was escalating campaigns to dilute worldwide restrictions.

“There is proof of corporate influence globally. Manufacturer hallmarks are on deferred levy rises in Indonesia, stalled legislation in Zambia and even a diluted statement at the UN high-level meeting,” commented the corporate monitoring director.

Likely impacts

“When public health regulation fails to be approved because of this letter, the cost might be borne in human lives who might otherwise quit smoking.”

The anti-smoking legislation progressing through Zambia’s parliament includes regulations surpassing UK legislation by also applying to e-cigarettes, and requiring that graphic health warnings cover 75% of product packaging.

Corporate counter-proposals

Through correspondence, the company recommends this be lowered to thirty to fifty percent “following international recommended threshold”, deferred for no less than one year after the legislation is approved.

Global health authorities in fact recommends a alert needs to encompass at least 50% of the front of a pack “and attempt to encompass as much of the primary showing sections as possible”. Across the United Kingdom, warnings must cover sixty-five percent of a cigarette pack surfaces.

Flavor restrictions debate

The company seeks the removal of broad restrictions on flavoured tobacco products, claiming that it would drive users to “illicitly sold” products. The company proposes restricting fewer varieties of “flavours based on desserts, candy, energy drinks, soft drinks and alcohol drinks”. Every scented tobacco product have been prohibited in Britain since 2020.

The draft bill suggests penalties for multiple violations “ranging from a portion of yearly revenue to ten-year jail sentences”.

Business explanation

Through correspondence, the managing director of British American Tobacco Zambia states the corporation is focused on ethical business practices” and “backs the goals of governments to lower tobacco use and the associated health impact” but maintains that “specific rules can have undesirable and unforeseen outcomes.”

Campaigner rebuttal

The campaigner argued the corporation's recommended amendments would “dilute these regulations so much that the necessary effect for it to cause long-term change in society will not be achieved”.

The circumstance that many such provisions operated within the UK, where the corporation is based, was “complete contradiction”, he said.

“We exist in a connected world. If I plant tobacco in my garden 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 neighbour’s children are succumbing … is in itself absolute spiritual collapse.”

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

Official corporate statement

A BAT Zambia spokesperson stated: “The corporation runs its business in compliance with relevant national regulations. Moreover, the corporation engages in the state's regulatory development in line with the suitable systems which provide for interested party involvement in regulation development.”

The firm positioned itself as “not opposed to regulation”, they said, adding that underage people should be protected from acquiring smoking products and nicotine.

“We champion progressive regulation to achieve intended community wellbeing objectives, while accepting the variety of rights and obligations on businesses, users and involved parties,” the representative explained, adding that the company's suggestions “mirror the circumstances of the local commercial environment and cigarette sector, which involves increasing amounts of illicit trade”.

The nation's ministry of trade, commerce and industry was approached for comment.