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The tobacco company stands accused of “utter hypocrisy” for campaigning against tobacco control measures in Africa that are already in place in the UK.

Zambian lobbying efforts

Correspondence acquired by reporters sent from the corporation's branch in Zambia to the African officials asks for plans to ban tobacco marketing and promotional activities to be canceled or deferred.

The tobacco firm seeks modifications of a proposed legislation that include lowering the suggested dimensions of visual health alerts on cigarette packaging, the withdrawal of controls on scented cigarette varieties, and watered-down penalties for any companies violating 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 continue the mortality of the Zambian people,” said Master Chimbala.

Thousands of residents a year pass away from tobacco-related illnesses, according to WHO calculations.

Chimbala said the letter was known to have been circulated to various ministerial offices and was in circulation among civil society groups.

Global industry interference concerns

The situation emerges alongside broader worries about industry interference with medical guidelines. In recent weeks, WHO officials issued a warning that the smoking product companies was escalating campaigns to undermine international regulations.

“There is proof of business advocacy globally. Manufacturer hallmarks are on delayed tax increases in Indonesia, delayed regulations in Zambia and even a diluted statement at the UN summit conference,” stated the tobacco industry watchdog.

Likely impacts

“When public health regulation fails to be approved because of this letter, the price could be paid in lives of people who might potentially stop smoking.”

The anti-smoking legislation progressing through Zambia’s parliament includes regulations surpassing UK legislation by extending coverage to e-cigarettes, and stipulating that graphic health warnings cover seventy-five percent of product packaging.

Corporate counter-proposals

Through correspondence, BAT suggests this be decreased to 30% or 50% “according to global recommended threshold”, postponed for minimum 12 months after the law is enacted.

Global health authorities actually suggests a alert needs to encompass at least half of the product container front “and seek to occupy as much of the main visible surfaces as possible”. In the UK, warnings are required to occupy nearly two-thirds of a packet’s front and back.

Flavored tobacco discussion

The corporation requests the removal of broad restrictions on flavored cigarette varieties, claiming that it would lead smokers to “illicitly sold” products. It suggests restricting fewer varieties of “flavours based on desserts, candy, energy drinks, soft drinks and alcohol drinks”. Each flavored smoking item have been banned in the UK since 2020.

The draft bill recommends punishments for various offences “ranging from a fraction of annual sales to a decade in prison”.

Corporate defense

In the letter, the managing director of the Zambian branch says the corporation is focused on responsible corporate conduct” and “endorses the aims of governments to reduce smoking incidence and the connected wellbeing effects” but asserts that “specific rules can have undesirable and unforeseen outcomes.”

Activist reaction

The campaigner argued the company's suggested modifications would “dilute these regulations so much that the necessary effect for it to produce permanent improvement in society will not be achieved”.

The reality that many such provisions were present in the UK, where BAT is headquartered, was “complete contradiction”, he said.

“We exist in a international community. If I plant tobacco in my garden and collect the yield and distribute the goods – and my children do not consume tobacco, but my community's youth consumes … to profit individually and all the future family lines while my community's youth are succumbing … is in itself complete moral collapse.”

Anti-smoking regulations in the Britain or other nations had not resulted in corporate closures, the campaigner stated. “Regulations don't close the industry. It only protects the people.”

Official corporate statement

The corporate communicator stated: “The corporation runs its operations according with relevant national regulations. Further, the company participates in the nation's lawmaking procedures in line with the appropriate structures which enable relevant group engagement in policymaking.”

The company was “not resisting legislation”, they said, noting that underage people should be protected from acquiring smoking products and nicotine.

“We advocate for evolving legislation to achieve intended public health goals, while accepting the variety of rights and obligations on businesses, users and involved parties,” the spokesperson stated, adding that the corporation's recommendations “represent the situation of the African nation's economy and smoking product business, which includes increasing amounts of illicit trade”.

The nation's ministry of trade, commerce and industry was solicited for statement.