Critics have charged British American Tobacco with “complete double standards” for lobbying against anti-smoking regulations in Africa that currently exist in the UK.
Campaign in Zambia
A letter obtained by media sent from the company’s subsidiary in Zambia to the country’s government ministers demands plans to ban tobacco advertising and sponsorship to be scrapped or postponed.
The tobacco firm seeks amendments to a draft bill that include decreasing the recommended coverage of pictorial cautions on cigarette packaging, the removal of restrictions on flavored smoking items, and reduced sanctions for any businesses disregarding the new laws.
Anti-tobacco campaigner response
“If I was a politician, I would say that they enable the defense of the British people and continue the mortality of the Zambian people,” commented Master Chimbala.
More than 7,000 Zambians a year die from smoking-associated diseases, according to WHO calculations.
The campaigner stated the letter was understood to have been copied to multiple official agencies and was in distribution within public interest organizations.
Global industry interference concerns
It comes amid expanded apprehension about corporate intervention with public health regulations. Recently, WHO officials raised concerns that the smoking product companies was increasing attempts to dilute worldwide restrictions.
“Evidence exists of business advocacy worldwide. Corporate signatures are on delayed tax increases in Indonesia, delayed regulations in Zambia and even a weakened declaration at the UN high-level meeting,” commented the corporate monitoring director.
Possible outcomes
“Should anti-smoking legislation fails to be approved because of this letter, the consequences may be suffered in individuals' health who might potentially stop smoking.”
The public health measure being considered by Zambia’s parliament includes regulations surpassing UK legislation by including provisions for e-cigarettes, and mandating that graphic health warnings cover seventy-five percent of product packaging.
Company alternative suggestions
Via documentation, the company recommends this be lowered to 30% or 50% “following international recommended threshold”, delayed for at least one year after the law is enacted.
Global health authorities in fact recommends a warning should cover at least fifty percent of the product container front “and seek to occupy as much of the primary showing sections 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 flavored cigarette varieties, suggesting that it would push consumers toward “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 draft bill suggests penalties for different infractions “ranging from a portion of yearly revenue to 10 years’ imprisonment”.
Business explanation
Via documentation, the company executive of British American Tobacco Zambia states the firm is “committed to good corporate behaviour” and “backs the goals of governments to lower tobacco use and the connected wellbeing effects” but maintains that “some regulations can have unwelcome and unexpected consequences.”
Critic response
Chimbala said the corporation's recommended amendments would “dilute these regulations so much that the impact needed for it to cause long-term change in society will not be achieved”.
The circumstance that many such provisions operated within the UK, where the company maintains its main office, was “utter hypocrisy itself”, he said.
“We exist in a international community. If I plant tobacco in my back yard and collect the yield and sell it out – and my family members avoid tobacco, but my neighbor's family uses … to profit individually and all the subsequent offspring while my neighbor's family are perishing … is in itself total emotional bankruptcy.”
Tobacco control legislation in the Britain or other nations had not resulted in corporate closures, Chimbala said. “Regulations don't close the industry. It only protects the people.”
Official corporate statement
The corporate communicator stated: “BAT Zambia conducts its activities following with applicable local laws. Further, the company participates in the nation's lawmaking procedures in line with the relevant frameworks which provide for stakeholder participation in policymaking.”
The company was “not opposed to regulation”, the representative commented, mentioning that underage people should be shielded from access to tobacco and nicotine.
“We support evolving legislation to realize planned public health goals, while acknowledging the spectrum of rights and obligations on corporations, customers and associated groups,” the representative explained, noting that the company's suggestions “reflect the realities of the Zambian market and tobacco industry, which encompasses rising levels of illegal commerce”.
The nation's ministry of economic activities and commercial operations was contacted for response.
