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The tobacco company stands accused of “total contradiction” for lobbying against tobacco control measures in Africa that are already in place in the UK.

African regulatory opposition

Documents seen by journalists originating from the company’s subsidiary in Zambia to the African officials requests plans to ban 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 flavored smoking items, and watered-down penalties for any companies violating the new laws.

Health advocate reaction

“If I was a politician, I would say that they allow the safeguarding of the British people and sustain the fatalities of the Zambian people,” said Master Chimbala.

More than 7,000 Zambians a year die from smoking-associated diseases, according to global health agency statistics.

Chimbala said the letter was believed to have been distributed to various ministerial offices and was in circulating through public interest organizations.

Global industry interference concerns

The situation emerges alongside broader worries about business sector influence with health policies. Recently, international health experts sounded an alarm that the tobacco industry was intensifying efforts to undermine international regulations.

“We see evidence of corporate influence globally. Corporate signatures are on postponed duty hikes in Indonesia, delayed regulations in Zambia and even a weakened declaration at the UN high-level meeting,” stated the corporate monitoring director.

Likely impacts

“If a tobacco control measure doesn't get enacted because of this letter, the cost might be borne in human lives who might potentially stop smoking.”

The tobacco control bill progressing through Zambia’s parliament includes proposals to go further UK legislation by including provisions for e-cigarettes, and requiring that pictorial cautions cover three-quarters of product packaging.

Business countermeasures

Through correspondence, the corporation proposes this be reduced to 30% or 50% “according to global recommended threshold”, deferred for no less than 12 months after the law is enacted.

International experts actually suggests a alert needs to encompass at least fifty percent of the cigarette package face “and aim to cover as much of the principal display areas as possible”. Across the United Kingdom, warnings need to encompass 65% of a packet’s front and back.

Flavor restrictions debate

The company seeks the withdrawal of extensive controls on flavoured tobacco products, suggesting that it would drive users to “illegally traded” products. The company proposes prohibiting a smaller list of “scents derived from desserts, candy, energy drinks, soft drinks and alcohol drinks”. Every scented tobacco product have been outlawed across the UK since 2020.

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

Company justification

Via documentation, the company executive of the Zambian branch claims the company is dedicated to responsible corporate conduct” and “endorses the aims of governments to lower tobacco use and the associated health impact” but asserts that “certain measures can have unwelcome and unexpected consequences.”

Campaigner rebuttal

Chimbala said the corporation's recommended amendments would “weaken this legislation so much that the necessary effect for it to produce permanent improvement in society will not be achieved”.

The reality that multiple comparable regulations were present in the UK, where the corporation is based, was “total double standard”, he said.

“We reside in a global village. If I plant tobacco in my property and gather the crop and sell it out – and my family members avoid tobacco, but my community's youth consumes … to benefit personally and all the subsequent offspring while my community's youth are succumbing … is in itself complete moral failure.”

Public health laws in the Britain or other nations had not caused companies to close, Chimbala said. “Laws don't eliminate the industry. They merely safeguard the people.”

Standard business position

A BAT Zambia spokesperson stated: “The company operates its operations according with relevant national regulations. Moreover, the company participates in the nation's lawmaking procedures in line with the relevant frameworks which enable stakeholder participation in legislation creation.”

The corporation remained “not against rules”, the representative commented, noting that minors should be safeguarded against obtaining cigarettes and nicotine.

“We support evolving legislation to realize planned public health goals, while recognizing the range of entitlements and duties on industry, consumers and related stakeholders,” the spokesperson stated, noting that BAT’s proposals “mirror the circumstances of the Zambian market and cigarette sector, which involves rising levels of illegal commerce”.

The country's office of economic activities and commercial operations was approached for comment.