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British American Tobacco has been accused of “complete double standards” for opposing anti-smoking regulations in Africa that are already in place in the UK.

African regulatory opposition

Documents seen by journalists originating from the firm's affiliate in Zambia to the African officials requests plans to ban tobacco advertising and sponsorship to be scrapped or postponed.

The corporation is pursuing amendments to a proposed legislation that include decreasing the proposed size of pictorial cautions on cigarette packaging, the removal of restrictions on scented cigarette varieties, and reduced sanctions for any businesses disregarding the new laws.

Anti-tobacco campaigner response

“As an elected official, I would say that they allow the safeguarding of the British people and sustain the fatalities of the Zambian people,” said Master Chimbala.

Over seven thousand citizens a year pass away from smoking-associated diseases, according to WHO calculations.

The campaigner stated the letter was understood to have been copied to multiple official agencies and was in circulating through community advocacy networks.

Global industry interference concerns

This occurs during wider concerns about industry interference with medical guidelines. In recent weeks, WHO officials sounded an alarm that the tobacco industry was intensifying efforts to weaken global control measures.

“Evidence exists of industry lobbying everywhere. Tobacco company fingerprints are on deferred levy rises in Indonesia, delayed regulations in Zambia and even a weakened declaration at the UN international gathering,” said Jorge Alday.

Likely impacts

“When public health regulation doesn't get enacted because of this letter, the consequences may be suffered in human lives who might possibly give up cigarettes.”

The public health measure being considered by Zambia’s parliament includes regulations surpassing UK legislation by extending coverage to e-cigarettes, and stipulating that pictorial cautions cover three-quarters of product packaging.

Corporate counter-proposals

Through correspondence, BAT suggests this be lowered to thirty to fifty percent “following international recommended threshold”, postponed for minimum one year after the bill passes.

The WHO in fact recommends a warning should cover at least 50% of the product container front “and seek to occupy as much of the principal display areas as possible”. In the UK, warnings need to encompass sixty-five percent of a packet’s front and back.

Flavor restrictions debate

The company seeks the withdrawal of extensive controls on scented smoking items, arguing that it would lead smokers to “illegally traded” products. The corporation recommends restricting fewer varieties of “flavours based on desserts, candy, energy drinks, soft drinks and alcohol drinks”. Each flavored smoking item have been outlawed across the UK since 2020.

The proposed legislation suggests penalties for multiple violations “varying from a percentage of annual turnover to ten-year jail sentences”.

Corporate defense

Through correspondence, the company executive of the Zambian branch claims the firm is “committed to ethical business practices” and “backs the goals of governments to decrease cigarette consumption and the associated health impact” but maintains that “some regulations can have undesirable and unforeseen outcomes.”

Activist reaction

The advocate stated the corporation's recommended amendments 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 multiple comparable regulations were present in the UK, where the corporation is based, was “complete contradiction”, he stated.

“We reside in a connected world. Should I grow cigarettes in my back yard and harvest that and sell it out – and my children do not consume tobacco, but my community's youth consumes … to profit individually and all the generations of my children while my neighbour’s children are succumbing … is in itself total emotional bankruptcy.”

Tobacco control legislation in the United Kingdom or other countries had not resulted in corporate closures, the advocate mentioned. “Legislation never shuts down the industry. It only protects the people.”

Formal company response

The corporate communicator commented: “The company operates its operations according with relevant national regulations. Further, the company participates in the country’s legislative process in line with the appropriate structures which enable interested party involvement in regulation development.”

The firm positioned itself as “not against rules”, they said, noting that underage people should be shielded from obtaining cigarettes and nicotine.

“We champion progressive regulation to accomplish desired community wellbeing objectives, while accepting the variety of privileges and responsibilities on corporations, customers and associated groups,” the representative explained, adding that BAT’s proposals “reflect the realities of the African nation's economy and tobacco industry, which includes increasing amounts of illicit trade”.

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