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The tobacco company stands accused of “complete double standards” for opposing anti-smoking regulations in Africa that are already in place in the UK.

Campaign in Zambia

Documents seen by journalists originating from the company’s subsidiary in Zambia to the country’s government ministers asks for plans to ban tobacco marketing and promotional activities to be canceled or deferred.

The tobacco firm seeks changes to a pending law that include reductions in the recommended coverage of visual health alerts on cigarette packaging, the withdrawal of controls on flavored smoking items, and diminished punishments for any firms breaking the new laws.

Health advocate reaction

“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,” stated Master Chimbala.

Over seven thousand citizens a year succumb to tobacco-related illnesses, according to WHO calculations.

Chimbala said the letter was understood to have been copied to multiple official agencies and was in circulating through community advocacy networks.

International corporate influence worries

The situation emerges alongside expanded apprehension about corporate intervention with health policies. In recent weeks, WHO officials sounded an alarm that the smoking product companies was intensifying efforts to dilute worldwide restrictions.

“There is proof of industry lobbying everywhere. Tobacco company fingerprints are on deferred levy rises in Indonesia, halted laws in Zambia and even a weakened declaration at the UN summit conference,” said Jorge Alday.

Likely impacts

“Should anti-smoking legislation doesn't get enacted because of this letter, the cost might be borne in human lives who might otherwise quit smoking.”

The anti-smoking legislation progressing through Zambia’s parliament includes measures that exceed UK legislation by including provisions for e-cigarettes, and stipulating that visual health alerts cover three-quarters of product packaging.

Company alternative suggestions

Through correspondence, BAT suggests this be lowered to thirty to fifty percent “following international guideline limits”, postponed for minimum twelve months after the legislation is approved.

International experts actually suggests 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 product container sides.

Scented product controversy

The company seeks the elimination of comprehensive limitations on flavored cigarette varieties, claiming that it would lead smokers to “illegally traded” products. It suggests prohibiting a smaller list of “flavours based on desserts, candy, energy drinks, soft drinks and alcohol drinks”. All flavoured cigarettes have been prohibited in Britain since 2020.

The pending regulation recommends punishments for various offences “ranging from a fraction of annual sales to 10 years’ imprisonment”.

Corporate defense

Through correspondence, the corporate leader of the African subsidiary claims the firm is “committed to ethical business practices” and “supports the objectives of governments to reduce smoking incidence and the related medical consequences” but claims that “certain measures can have negative and unanticipated results.”

Critic response

The advocate stated the company's suggested modifications would “undermine this law so much that the required influence for it to create lasting transformation in society will not be achieved”.

The reality that many such provisions were present in the UK, where BAT is headquartered, was “complete contradiction”, he stated.

“We reside in a global village. Should I grow cigarettes in my back yard and harvest that and distribute the goods – and my family members avoid tobacco, but my neighbor's family uses … to benefit personally 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 resulted in corporate closures, the advocate mentioned. “Laws don't eliminate the industry. It only protects the people.”

Formal company response

The company representative stated: “BAT Zambia conducts its operations according with relevant national regulations. Additionally, the corporation engages in the country’s legislative process in line with the relevant frameworks which enable stakeholder participation in regulation development.”

The corporation remained “not opposed to regulation”, the representative commented, noting that underage people should be shielded from access to tobacco and nicotine.

“We advocate for developing rules to accomplish desired public health goals, while accepting the variety of rights and obligations on industry, consumers and related stakeholders,” the spokesperson stated, noting that the corporation's recommendations “represent the situation of the Zambian market and cigarette sector, which encompasses rising levels of illicit trade”.

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