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Critics have charged British American Tobacco with “utter hypocrisy” for lobbying against tobacco control measures in Africa that currently exist in the UK.

Zambian lobbying efforts

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

The tobacco firm seeks changes to a draft bill that include lowering the recommended coverage of graphic health warnings on cigarette packaging, the withdrawal of controls on scented cigarette varieties, and diminished punishments for any firms breaking the new laws.

Health advocate reaction

“As an elected official, I would say that they allow the safeguarding of the British people and perpetuate the death of the Zambian people,” said Master Chimbala.

Over seven thousand citizens a year succumb to cigarette-linked health conditions, according to global health agency statistics.

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

Global industry interference concerns

It comes amid wider concerns about business sector influence with health policies. Last month, international health experts raised concerns that the tobacco industry was escalating campaigns to dilute worldwide restrictions.

“We see evidence of business advocacy worldwide. Corporate signatures are on postponed duty hikes in Indonesia, stalled legislation in Zambia and even a weakened declaration at the UN summit conference,” stated the corporate monitoring director.

Potential consequences

“When public health regulation fails to be approved because of this letter, the price could be paid in lives of people who might otherwise quit smoking.”

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

Business countermeasures

Via documentation, the company recommends this be reduced to less than half “following international recommended threshold”, deferred for no less than twelve months after the bill passes.

International experts in fact recommends a alert needs to encompass at least fifty percent of the cigarette package face “and seek to occupy as much of the primary showing sections as possible”. Across the United Kingdom, warnings must cover nearly two-thirds of a cigarette pack surfaces.

Scented product controversy

The corporation requests the withdrawal of extensive controls on flavoured tobacco products, claiming that it would drive users to “illegally traded” products. The company proposes banning a limited selection of “scents derived from desserts, candy, energy drinks, soft drinks and alcohol drinks”. Every scented tobacco product have been banned in the UK since 2020.

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

Company justification

Through correspondence, the company executive of the Zambian branch claims the corporation is focused on ethical business practices” and “supports the objectives of governments to reduce smoking incidence and the associated health impact” but maintains that “specific rules can have negative and unanticipated results.”

Activist reaction

The campaigner argued the company's suggested modifications would “dilute these regulations so much that the necessary effect for it to create lasting transformation in society will not be achieved”.

The fact that numerous similar measures were present in the UK, where the company maintains its main office, was “utter hypocrisy itself”, he stated.

“We live in a international community. When I cultivate smoking products in my back yard and gather the crop and market the products – and my family members avoid tobacco, but my neighbour’s children do … to benefit personally and all the generations of my children while my neighbour’s children are perishing … is in itself absolute spiritual failure.”

Tobacco control legislation in the Britain or other nations had failed to shutter businesses, Chimbala said. “Legislation never shuts down the industry. They merely safeguard the people.”

Standard business position

The corporate communicator commented: “The corporation runs its operations according with applicable local laws. Further, the corporation engages in the nation's lawmaking procedures in line with the relevant frameworks which provide for stakeholder participation in policymaking.”

The corporation remained “not opposed to regulation”, the spokesperson stated, mentioning that minors should be safeguarded against acquiring smoking products and nicotine.

“We champion progressive regulation to achieve intended community wellbeing objectives, while recognizing the range of privileges and responsibilities on corporations, customers and associated groups,” the representative explained, adding that the company's suggestions “reflect the realities of the Zambian market and smoking product business, which includes rising levels of illegal commerce”.

Zambia’s department of trade, commerce and industry was approached for comment.