🔗 Share this article

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

Zambian lobbying efforts

A letter obtained by media originating from the firm's affiliate in Zambia to the African officials requests proposals to prohibit tobacco advertising and sponsorship to be abandoned or delayed.

The corporation is pursuing modifications of a pending law that include reductions in the recommended coverage of pictorial cautions on cigarette packaging, the elimination of limitations on scented cigarette varieties, and diminished punishments for any companies violating the new laws.

Health advocate reaction

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

Thousands of residents a year succumb to smoking-associated diseases, according to global health agency statistics.

The advocate mentioned the letter was believed to have been distributed to several government departments and was in distribution within civil society groups.

Global industry interference concerns

The situation emerges alongside expanded apprehension about industry interference with public health regulations. Recently, WHO officials raised concerns that the tobacco industry was escalating campaigns to weaken global control measures.

“Evidence exists of industry lobbying everywhere. Corporate signatures are on deferred levy rises in Indonesia, delayed regulations in Zambia and even a compromised resolution at the UN high-level meeting,” commented Jorge Alday.

Potential consequences

“If a tobacco control measure isn’t passed because of this letter, the price could be paid in lives of people who might otherwise quit smoking.”

The anti-smoking legislation being considered by Zambia’s parliament includes regulations surpassing UK legislation by also applying to e-cigarettes, and stipulating that visual health alerts cover 75% of product packaging.

Corporate counter-proposals

Via documentation, the company recommends this be reduced to less than half “within the WHO-FCTC recommended threshold”, deferred for no less than one year after the law is enacted.

The WHO actually suggests a alert needs to encompass at least half of the cigarette package face “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 product container sides.

Scented product controversy

The company seeks the withdrawal of extensive controls on flavored cigarette varieties, claiming that it would lead smokers to “illicitly sold” products. The company proposes banning a limited selection of “flavours based on desserts, candy, energy drinks, soft drinks and alcohol drinks”. Every scented tobacco product have been banned in the UK since 2020.

The proposed legislation recommends punishments for multiple violations “varying from a percentage of annual turnover to a decade in prison”.

Company justification

In the letter, the managing director of British American Tobacco Zambia states the firm is “committed to ethical business practices” and “backs the goals of governments to lower tobacco use and the associated health impact” but claims that “specific rules can have negative and unanticipated results.”

Critic response

The campaigner argued BAT’s proposed changes would “undermine this law so much that the required influence for it to cause long-term change in society will not be achieved”.

The reality that multiple comparable regulations operated within the UK, where the company maintains its main office, was “utter hypocrisy itself”, he commented.

“We reside in a global village. When I cultivate smoking products in my garden and collect the yield and market the products – and my offspring don't use tobacco, but my community's youth consumes … to profit individually and all the future family lines while my neighbor's family are perishing … is in itself total emotional failure.”

Tobacco control legislation in the UK or elsewhere had not caused companies to close, the campaigner stated. “Laws don't eliminate the industry. It only protects the people.”

Standard business position

The corporate communicator said: “The company operates its business in compliance with applicable local laws. Moreover, the firm contributes in the state's regulatory development in line with the appropriate structures which provide for stakeholder participation in regulation development.”

The company was “not against rules”, the spokesperson stated, adding that underage people should be safeguarded against access to tobacco and nicotine.

“We champion progressive regulation to realize planned population health targets, while acknowledging the spectrum of entitlements and duties on corporations, customers and associated groups,” the representative explained, mentioning that the company's suggestions “mirror the circumstances of the Zambian market and smoking product business, which encompasses rising levels of black market activity”.

Zambia’s department of business, commercial affairs and industrial development was contacted for response.