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The tobacco company stands accused of “complete double standards” for lobbying against tobacco control measures in Africa which are already enforced in the UK.

African regulatory opposition

Documents seen by journalists originating from the company’s subsidiary in Zambia to the African officials requests proposals to prohibit tobacco advertising and sponsorship to be scrapped or postponed.

The corporation is pursuing changes to a draft bill that include reductions in the proposed size of visual health alerts on cigarette packaging, the removal of restrictions on flavored smoking items, and diminished punishments for any companies violating the new laws.

Health advocate reaction

“Were I in government, I would say that they allow the safeguarding of the British people and continue the mortality of the Zambian people,” commented the anti-tobacco campaigner.

Thousands of residents a year pass away from cigarette-linked health conditions, according to global health agency statistics.

Chimbala said the letter was understood to have been copied to various ministerial offices and was in circulating through public interest organizations.

Worldwide lobbying patterns

This occurs during expanded apprehension about business sector influence with health policies. Last month, international health experts raised concerns that the smoking product companies was intensifying efforts to weaken global control measures.

“We see evidence of business advocacy everywhere. Tobacco company fingerprints are on postponed duty hikes in Indonesia, delayed regulations in Zambia and even a weakened declaration at the UN international gathering,” commented the corporate monitoring director.

Likely impacts

“Should anti-smoking legislation isn’t passed because of this letter, the price could be paid in lives of people who might possibly give up cigarettes.”

The tobacco control bill going through Zambia’s parliament includes measures that exceed UK legislation by also applying to e-cigarettes, and mandating that graphic health warnings cover three-quarters of product packaging.

Business countermeasures

Via documentation, the company recommends this be reduced to thirty to fifty percent “following international guideline limits”, delayed for at least 12 months after the legislation is approved.

International experts specifically advises a warning should cover at least 50% of the product container front “and aim to cover as much of the main visible surfaces as possible”. In the UK, warnings need to encompass sixty-five percent of a packet’s front and back.

Flavored tobacco discussion

The company seeks the elimination of comprehensive limitations on flavoured tobacco products, claiming that it would drive users to “black market” products. It suggests prohibiting a smaller list of “scents derived from desserts, candy, energy drinks, soft drinks and alcohol drinks”. Every scented tobacco product have been prohibited in Britain since 2020.

The draft bill recommends punishments for multiple violations “ranging from a fraction of annual sales to ten-year jail sentences”.

Business explanation

Through correspondence, the managing director of the Zambian branch says the company is dedicated to good corporate behaviour” and “endorses the aims of governments to reduce smoking incidence and the associated health impact” but maintains that “specific rules can have negative and unanticipated results.”

Critic response

Chimbala said the company's suggested modifications 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 multiple comparable regulations were present in the UK, where BAT is headquartered, was “total double standard”, he commented.

“We reside in a connected world. Should I grow cigarettes in my property and harvest that and market the products – and my children do not consume tobacco, but my neighbour’s children do … to profit individually and all the future family lines while my neighbor's family are perishing … is in itself complete moral collapse.”

Anti-smoking regulations in the Britain or other nations had not resulted in corporate closures, Chimbala said. “Legislation never shuts down the industry. They merely safeguard the people.”

Formal company response

The corporate communicator commented: “The company operates its activities following with current country statutes. Further, the corporation engages in the state's regulatory development in line with the suitable systems which provide for relevant group engagement in regulation development.”

The corporation remained “not resisting legislation”, the representative commented, mentioning that underage people should be protected from obtaining cigarettes and nicotine.

“We support developing rules to accomplish desired community wellbeing objectives, while recognizing the range of rights and obligations on businesses, users and involved parties,” they said, noting that BAT’s proposals “mirror the circumstances of the Zambian market and cigarette sector, which encompasses increasing amounts of illicit trade”.

The country's office of economic activities and commercial operations was solicited for statement.