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The tobacco company stands accused of “complete double standards” for lobbying against tobacco control measures in Africa that currently exist in the UK.

African regulatory opposition

Correspondence acquired by reporters sent from the corporation's branch in Zambia to the African officials asks for measures restricting tobacco marketing and promotional activities to be abandoned or delayed.

The corporation is pursuing changes to a pending law that include lowering the recommended coverage of pictorial cautions on cigarette packaging, the withdrawal of controls on flavoured tobacco products, and diminished punishments for any firms breaking the new laws.

Health advocate reaction

“As an elected official, I would say that they permit the protection of the British people and sustain the fatalities of the Zambian people,” commented the health advocate.

More than 7,000 Zambians a year die from 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.

Worldwide lobbying patterns

The situation emerges alongside wider concerns about corporate intervention with health policies. In recent weeks, international health experts raised concerns that the smoking product companies was intensifying efforts to weaken global control measures.

“Evidence exists of business advocacy worldwide. Manufacturer hallmarks are on deferred levy rises in Indonesia, halted laws in Zambia and even a diluted statement at the UN summit conference,” commented Jorge Alday.

Possible outcomes

“Should anti-smoking legislation doesn't get enacted because of this letter, the cost might be borne in individuals' health who might potentially stop smoking.”

The public health measure progressing through Zambia’s parliament includes proposals to go further UK legislation by also applying to e-cigarettes, and stipulating that graphic health warnings cover 75% of product packaging.

Company alternative suggestions

Via documentation, BAT suggests this be decreased to thirty to fifty percent “within the WHO-FCTC suggested parameters”, postponed for minimum 12 months after the law is enacted.

International experts specifically advises a alert needs to encompass at least half of the cigarette package face “and seek to occupy as much of the main visible surfaces as possible”. In the UK, warnings are required to occupy 65% of a cigarette pack surfaces.

Flavored tobacco discussion

The corporation requests the removal of broad restrictions on scented smoking items, claiming that it would drive users to “black market” products. The company proposes restricting fewer varieties of “scents derived from desserts, candy, energy drinks, soft drinks and alcohol drinks”. Each flavored smoking item have been outlawed across the UK since 2020.

The pending regulation suggests penalties for different infractions “extending from a portion of yearly revenue to ten-year jail sentences”.

Business explanation

In the letter, the managing director of the Zambian branch claims the firm is “committed to ethical business practices” and “endorses the aims of governments to lower tobacco use and the connected wellbeing effects” but claims that “some regulations can have undesirable and unforeseen outcomes.”

Campaigner rebuttal

The advocate stated BAT’s proposed changes would “undermine this law so much that the necessary effect for it to create lasting transformation in society will not be achieved”.

The reality that many such provisions were present in the UK, where the corporation is based, was “complete contradiction”, he said.

“We exist in a connected world. When I cultivate smoking products in my garden and harvest that and sell it out – and my children do not consume tobacco, but my neighbour’s children do … to profit individually and all the subsequent offspring while my neighbour’s children are dying … is in itself total emotional failure.”

Tobacco control legislation in the Britain or other nations had not resulted in corporate closures, Chimbala said. “Legislation never shuts down the industry. Measures simply defend the people.”

Formal company response

A BAT Zambia spokesperson said: “The corporation runs its activities following with current country statutes. Moreover, the corporation engages in the state's regulatory development in line with the suitable systems which enable stakeholder participation in legislation creation.”

The company was “not against rules”, they said, noting that underage people should be shielded from obtaining cigarettes and nicotine.

“We advocate for developing rules to accomplish desired population health targets, while accepting the variety of privileges and responsibilities on industry, consumers and related stakeholders,” they said, noting that the company's suggestions “reflect the realities of the local commercial environment and smoking product business, which includes growing volumes of illicit trade”.

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