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British American Tobacco has been accused of “total contradiction” for campaigning against tobacco control measures in Africa that are already in place in the UK.

African regulatory opposition

Correspondence acquired by reporters sent from the company’s subsidiary in Zambia to the country’s government ministers asks for measures restricting tobacco advertising and sponsorship to be scrapped or postponed.

The tobacco firm seeks modifications of a draft bill that include lowering the recommended coverage of pictorial cautions on cigarette packaging, the withdrawal of controls on flavored smoking items, and diminished punishments for any firms breaking the new laws.

Health advocate reaction

“As an elected official, I would say that they permit the protection of the British people and sustain the fatalities of the Zambian people,” stated the health advocate.

More than 7,000 Zambians a year pass away from cigarette-linked health conditions, according to WHO calculations.

Chimbala said the letter was understood to have been copied to several government departments and was in circulating through community advocacy networks.

International corporate influence worries

The situation emerges alongside broader worries about corporate intervention with medical guidelines. In recent weeks, WHO officials sounded an alarm that the tobacco industry was escalating campaigns to dilute worldwide restrictions.

“There is proof of corporate influence worldwide. Manufacturer hallmarks are on delayed tax increases in Indonesia, stalled legislation in Zambia and even a diluted statement at the UN high-level meeting,” 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 human lives who might otherwise quit smoking.”

The tobacco control bill going through Zambia’s parliament includes proposals to go further UK legislation by also applying to e-cigarettes, and requiring that visual health alerts cover seventy-five percent of product packaging.

Company alternative suggestions

Via documentation, the corporation proposes this be lowered to 30% or 50% “following international guideline limits”, postponed for minimum 12 months after the law is enacted.

International experts actually suggests a warning should cover at least half of the product container front “and aim to cover as much of the primary showing sections as possible”. Within Britain, warnings must cover nearly two-thirds of a packet’s front and back.

Flavored tobacco discussion

The company seeks the removal of broad restrictions on flavoured tobacco products, suggesting that it would push consumers toward “black market” products. The company proposes 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 proposes sanctions for various offences “varying from a portion of yearly revenue to ten-year jail sentences”.

Business explanation

Via documentation, the corporate leader of British American Tobacco Zambia says the company is dedicated to responsible corporate conduct” and “backs the goals of governments to decrease cigarette consumption and the related medical consequences” but maintains that “certain measures can have negative and unanticipated results.”

Critic response

The advocate stated the corporation's recommended amendments would “dilute these regulations so much that the required influence for it to produce permanent improvement in society will not be achieved”.

The fact that numerous similar measures operated within the UK, where the company maintains its main office, was “complete contradiction”, he said.

“We exist 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 neighbour’s children do … to profit individually and all the generations of my children while my neighbour’s children are dying … is in itself absolute spiritual failure.”

Tobacco control legislation in the United Kingdom or other countries had failed to shutter businesses, Chimbala said. “Legislation never shuts down the industry. Measures simply defend the people.”

Official corporate statement

A BAT Zambia spokesperson stated: “BAT Zambia conducts its operations according with relevant national regulations. Moreover, the corporation engages in the state's regulatory development in line with the appropriate structures which enable stakeholder participation in legislation creation.”

The company was “not resisting legislation”, the representative commented, mentioning that minors should be protected from acquiring smoking products and nicotine.

“We advocate for developing rules to achieve intended community wellbeing objectives, while acknowledging the spectrum of privileges and responsibilities on businesses, users and involved parties,” the representative explained, noting that BAT’s proposals “mirror the circumstances of the African nation's economy and tobacco industry, which involves increasing amounts of illicit trade”.

The nation's ministry of economic activities and commercial operations was contacted for response.