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Critics have charged British American Tobacco with “utter hypocrisy” for opposing anti-smoking regulations in Africa which are already enforced in the UK.

Zambian lobbying efforts

Documents seen by journalists dispatched by the firm's affiliate in Zambia to the African officials demands proposals to prohibit tobacco advertising and sponsorship to be canceled or deferred.

The company is attempting changes to a draft bill that include decreasing the suggested dimensions of visual health alerts on cigarette packaging, the withdrawal of controls on scented cigarette varieties, and reduced sanctions for any companies violating the new laws.

Health advocate reaction

“If I was a politician, I would say that they permit the protection of the British people and continue the mortality of the Zambian people,” stated the anti-tobacco campaigner.

Over seven thousand citizens a year succumb to tobacco-related illnesses, according to WHO calculations.

The advocate mentioned the letter was known to have been circulated to multiple official agencies and was in distribution within civil society groups.

Global industry interference concerns

This occurs during broader worries about business sector influence with public health regulations. Recently, international health experts sounded an alarm that the tobacco industry was intensifying efforts to weaken global control measures.

“Evidence exists of industry lobbying globally. Tobacco company fingerprints are on delayed tax increases in Indonesia, delayed regulations in Zambia and even a compromised resolution at the UN summit conference,” commented the tobacco industry watchdog.

Possible outcomes

“Should anti-smoking legislation doesn't get enacted because of this letter, the consequences may be suffered in lives of people who might potentially stop smoking.”

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

Company alternative suggestions

Via documentation, the company recommends this be reduced to 30% or 50% “within the WHO-FCTC guideline limits”, deferred for no less than twelve months after the bill passes.

International experts actually suggests a warning should cover at least 50% of the product container front “and attempt to encompass as much of the main visible surfaces as possible”. In the UK, warnings need to encompass nearly two-thirds of a packet’s front and back.

Flavored tobacco discussion

The company seeks the withdrawal of extensive controls on flavoured tobacco products, suggesting that it would lead smokers to “illegally traded” products. It suggests banning a limited selection 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 proposed legislation proposes sanctions for multiple violations “varying from a portion of yearly revenue to ten-year jail sentences”.

Business explanation

In the letter, the managing director of the Zambian branch says the firm is “committed to good corporate behaviour” and “endorses the aims of governments to lower tobacco use and the associated health impact” but maintains that “specific rules can have negative and unanticipated results.”

Critic response

Chimbala said BAT’s proposed changes would “dilute these regulations so much that the necessary effect for it to produce permanent improvement in society will not be achieved”.

The fact that many such provisions operated within the UK, where the company maintains its main office, was “complete contradiction”, he said.

“We live in a international community. Should I grow cigarettes in my garden and harvest that and sell it out – and my children do not consume tobacco, but my neighbor's family uses … to enrich myself and all the future family lines while my community's youth are dying … is in itself complete moral failure.”

Public health laws in the Britain or other nations had not resulted in corporate closures, Chimbala said. “Laws don't eliminate the industry. They merely safeguard the people.”

Official corporate statement

A BAT Zambia spokesperson said: “The corporation runs its business in compliance with applicable local laws. Further, the company participates in the nation's lawmaking procedures in line with the appropriate structures which enable interested party involvement in legislation creation.”

The corporation remained “not resisting legislation”, the spokesperson stated, noting that young individuals should be shielded from obtaining cigarettes and nicotine.

“We support evolving legislation to realize planned community wellbeing objectives, while acknowledging the spectrum of privileges and responsibilities on corporations, customers and associated groups,” they said, noting that the corporation's recommendations “mirror the circumstances of the African nation's economy and tobacco industry, which involves increasing amounts of illegal commerce”.

The country's office of business, commercial affairs and industrial development was solicited for statement.