‘Total contradiction’: Tobacco giant opposed rules in Africa that are law in UK

Critics have charged British American Tobacco with “complete double standards” for campaigning against anti-smoking regulations in Africa that currently exist in the UK.

African regulatory opposition

Documents seen by journalists originating from the corporation's branch in Zambia to the country’s government ministers asks for plans to ban tobacco marketing and promotional activities to be abandoned or delayed.

The company is attempting changes to a pending law that include lowering the recommended coverage of pictorial cautions on cigarette packaging, the removal of restrictions on scented cigarette varieties, and diminished punishments for any firms breaking the new laws.

Anti-tobacco campaigner response

“If I was a politician, I would say that they enable the defense of the British people and perpetuate the death of the Zambian people,” said the anti-tobacco campaigner.

Thousands of residents a year die from smoking-associated diseases, according to global health agency statistics.

The advocate mentioned the letter was known to have been circulated to several government departments and was in distribution within community advocacy networks.

Worldwide lobbying patterns

The situation emerges alongside broader worries about corporate intervention with public health regulations. Recently, global health authorities raised concerns that the cigarette manufacturers was escalating campaigns to dilute worldwide restrictions.

“Evidence exists of industry lobbying everywhere. Manufacturer hallmarks are on deferred levy rises in Indonesia, halted laws in Zambia and even a weakened declaration at the UN high-level meeting,” stated the corporate monitoring director.

Possible outcomes

“If a tobacco control measure doesn't get enacted because of this letter, the cost might be borne in lives of people who might possibly give up cigarettes.”

The public health measure being considered by Zambia’s parliament includes proposals to go further UK legislation by also applying to e-cigarettes, and mandating that visual health alerts cover seventy-five percent of product packaging.

Business countermeasures

Through correspondence, the company recommends this be decreased to less than half “within the WHO-FCTC suggested parameters”, deferred for no less than 12 months after the law is enacted.

International experts in fact recommends a warning should cover at least 50% of the product container front “and aim to cover as much of the main visible surfaces as possible”. Across the United Kingdom, warnings must cover 65% of a cigarette pack surfaces.

Flavored tobacco discussion

BAT asks for the withdrawal of extensive controls on flavoured tobacco products, claiming that it would lead smokers to “illicitly sold” products. The corporation recommends banning a limited selection of “tastes inspired by desserts, candy, energy drinks, soft drinks and alcohol drinks”. All flavoured cigarettes have been outlawed across the UK since 2020.

The pending regulation proposes sanctions for multiple violations “varying from a percentage of annual turnover to 10 years’ imprisonment”.

Corporate defense

Via documentation, the managing director of the Zambian branch claims the firm is “committed to responsible corporate conduct” and “endorses the aims of governments to lower tobacco use and the related medical consequences” but claims that “certain measures can have undesirable and unforeseen outcomes.”

Activist reaction

Chimbala said the corporation's recommended amendments would “undermine this law so much that the necessary effect for it to create lasting transformation in society will not be achieved”.

The fact that multiple comparable regulations were present in the UK, where the company maintains its main office, was “utter hypocrisy itself”, he said.

“We reside in a international community. Should I grow cigarettes in my property and gather the crop and market the products – and my children do not consume tobacco, but my community's youth consumes … to benefit personally and all the generations of my children while my neighbor's family are succumbing … is in itself total emotional failure.”

Tobacco control legislation in the United Kingdom or other countries had failed to shutter businesses, the advocate mentioned. “Laws don't eliminate the industry. It only protects the people.”

Formal company response

A BAT Zambia spokesperson commented: “The company operates its business in compliance with current country statutes. Additionally, the company participates in the country’s legislative process in line with the suitable systems which enable interested party involvement in legislation creation.”

The firm positioned itself as “not against rules”, the representative commented, adding that young individuals should be safeguarded against obtaining cigarettes and nicotine.

“We advocate for developing rules to realize planned community wellbeing objectives, while acknowledging the spectrum of privileges and responsibilities on businesses, users and involved parties,” the spokesperson stated, mentioning that the corporation's recommendations “reflect the realities of the local commercial environment and smoking product business, which includes growing volumes of illicit trade”.

Zambia’s department of economic activities and commercial operations was contacted for response.