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Critics have charged British American Tobacco with “complete double standards” for opposing anti-smoking regulations in Africa that are already in place in the UK.

Campaign in Zambia

A letter obtained by media dispatched by the corporation's branch in Zambia to the country’s government ministers demands measures restricting tobacco marketing and promotional activities to be scrapped or postponed.

The corporation is pursuing changes to a draft bill that include reductions in the suggested dimensions of pictorial cautions on cigarette packaging, the removal of restrictions on scented cigarette varieties, and watered-down penalties for any businesses disregarding the new laws.

Anti-tobacco campaigner response

“Were I in government, I would say that they allow the safeguarding of the British people and sustain the fatalities of the Zambian people,” stated the anti-tobacco campaigner.

Thousands of residents a year succumb to cigarette-linked health conditions, according to WHO calculations.

The campaigner stated the letter was understood to have been copied to various ministerial offices and was in distribution within community advocacy networks.

Worldwide lobbying patterns

It comes amid wider concerns about industry interference with medical guidelines. Recently, international health experts sounded an alarm that the tobacco industry was escalating campaigns to dilute worldwide restrictions.

“Evidence exists of corporate influence worldwide. Manufacturer hallmarks are on deferred levy rises in Indonesia, delayed regulations in Zambia and even a diluted statement at the UN high-level meeting,” commented Jorge Alday.

Likely impacts

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

The anti-smoking legislation progressing through Zambia’s parliament includes measures that exceed UK legislation by extending coverage to e-cigarettes, and stipulating that visual health alerts cover 75% of product packaging.

Business countermeasures

Through correspondence, the company recommends this be lowered to 30% or 50% “within the WHO-FCTC recommended threshold”, postponed for minimum 12 months after the bill passes.

International experts actually suggests a warning should cover at least 50% of the product container front “and seek to occupy as much of the primary showing sections as possible”. Within Britain, warnings must cover nearly two-thirds of a packet’s front and back.

Flavor restrictions debate

BAT asks for the withdrawal of extensive controls on flavored cigarette varieties, suggesting that it would drive users to “illegally traded” 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 banned in the UK since 2020.

The pending regulation proposes sanctions for multiple violations “extending from a percentage of annual turnover to a decade in prison”.

Corporate defense

In the letter, the corporate leader of the African subsidiary says the company is dedicated to good corporate behaviour” and “supports the objectives of governments to lower tobacco use and the related medical consequences” but asserts that “some regulations can have unwelcome and unexpected consequences.”

Campaigner rebuttal

The advocate stated the corporation's recommended amendments would “undermine this law so much that the necessary effect for it to produce permanent improvement in society will not be achieved”.

The circumstance that numerous similar measures were present in the UK, where the corporation is based, was “complete contradiction”, he commented.

“We exist in a global village. Should I grow cigarettes in my property and collect the yield and distribute the goods – and my offspring don't use tobacco, but my community's youth consumes … to benefit personally and all the subsequent offspring while my community's youth are dying … is in itself total emotional failure.”

Anti-smoking regulations in the Britain or other nations had not resulted in corporate closures, Chimbala said. “Legislation never shuts down the industry. It only protects the people.”

Official corporate statement

A BAT Zambia spokesperson said: “The corporation runs its business in compliance with current country statutes. Moreover, the corporation engages in the nation's lawmaking procedures in line with the relevant frameworks which provide for relevant group engagement in legislation creation.”

The firm positioned itself as “not opposed to regulation”, they said, mentioning that underage people should be shielded from access to tobacco and nicotine.

“We advocate for evolving legislation to achieve intended community wellbeing objectives, while accepting the variety of privileges and responsibilities on industry, consumers and related stakeholders,” the representative explained, adding that the corporation's recommendations “mirror the circumstances of the Zambian market and smoking product business, which involves growing volumes of illegal commerce”.

Zambia’s department of trade, commerce and industry was solicited for statement.