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Critics have charged British American Tobacco with “total contradiction” for campaigning against anti-smoking regulations in Africa that currently exist in the UK.

Campaign in Zambia

A letter obtained by media dispatched by the company’s subsidiary in Zambia to the nation's political leaders requests plans to ban tobacco marketing and promotional activities to be abandoned or delayed.

The company is attempting amendments to a pending law that include decreasing the recommended coverage of visual health alerts on cigarette packaging, the withdrawal of controls on scented cigarette varieties, and watered-down penalties for any firms breaking 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 sustain the fatalities of the Zambian people,” said Master Chimbala.

More than 7,000 Zambians a year die from tobacco-related illnesses, according to global health agency statistics.

Chimbala said the letter was understood to have been copied to various ministerial offices and was in distribution within community advocacy networks.

Worldwide lobbying patterns

This occurs during wider concerns about industry interference with medical guidelines. Recently, global health authorities raised concerns that the smoking product companies was escalating campaigns to undermine international regulations.

“There is proof of business advocacy everywhere. Tobacco company fingerprints are on delayed tax increases in Indonesia, halted laws in Zambia and even a diluted statement at the UN international gathering,” stated the tobacco industry watchdog.

Possible outcomes

“If a tobacco control measure doesn't get enacted because of this letter, the price could be paid in human lives who might possibly give up cigarettes.”

The anti-smoking legislation being considered by Zambia’s parliament includes measures that exceed UK legislation by including provisions for e-cigarettes, and stipulating that graphic health warnings cover seventy-five percent of product packaging.

Corporate counter-proposals

Through correspondence, BAT suggests this be decreased to less than half “according to global recommended threshold”, deferred for no less than one year after the law is enacted.

The WHO specifically advises a caution must occupy at least 50% of the product container front “and aim to cover as much of the principal display areas as possible”. In the UK, warnings must cover 65% of a product container sides.

Flavor restrictions debate

BAT asks for the withdrawal of extensive controls on flavored cigarette varieties, claiming that it would push consumers toward “black market” products. It suggests prohibiting a smaller list of “flavours based on desserts, candy, energy drinks, soft drinks and alcohol drinks”. Each flavored smoking item have been prohibited in Britain since 2020.

The proposed legislation suggests penalties for different infractions “extending from a percentage of annual turnover to ten-year jail sentences”.

Business explanation

Through correspondence, the managing director of British American Tobacco Zambia states the firm is “committed to good corporate behaviour” and “backs the goals of governments to decrease cigarette consumption and the connected wellbeing effects” but claims that “some regulations can have unwelcome and unexpected consequences.”

Campaigner rebuttal

The campaigner argued the corporation's recommended amendments would “weaken this legislation so much that the impact needed for it to cause long-term change in society will not be achieved”.

The reality that multiple comparable regulations existed in the UK, where BAT is headquartered, was “complete contradiction”, he said.

“We live in a global village. When I cultivate smoking products in my back yard and gather the crop and distribute the goods – and my children do not consume tobacco, but my neighbor's family uses … to profit individually and all the subsequent offspring while my neighbour’s children are succumbing … is in itself absolute spiritual failure.”

Public health laws in the UK or elsewhere had not caused companies to close, Chimbala said. “Legislation never shuts down the industry. It only protects the people.”

Standard business position

The company representative commented: “BAT Zambia conducts its operations according with relevant national regulations. Further, the company participates in the nation's lawmaking procedures in line with the appropriate structures which enable relevant group engagement in legislation creation.”

The firm positioned itself as “not resisting legislation”, the spokesperson stated, adding that minors should be safeguarded against acquiring smoking products and nicotine.

“We support developing rules to accomplish desired population health targets, while accepting the variety of privileges and responsibilities on industry, consumers and related stakeholders,” the representative explained, mentioning that BAT’s proposals “represent the situation of the Zambian market and tobacco industry, which involves rising levels of black market activity”.

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