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Critics have charged British American Tobacco with “utter hypocrisy” for campaigning against anti-smoking regulations in Africa which are already enforced in the UK.

African regulatory opposition

Documents seen by journalists dispatched by the corporation's branch in Zambia to the African officials asks for measures restricting tobacco advertising and sponsorship to be scrapped or postponed.

The corporation is pursuing changes to a proposed legislation that include decreasing the proposed size of visual health alerts on cigarette packaging, the removal of restrictions on flavored smoking items, and diminished punishments for any firms breaking the new laws.

Anti-tobacco campaigner response

“As an elected official, I would say that they enable the defense of the British people and sustain the fatalities of the Zambian people,” stated the anti-tobacco campaigner.

More than 7,000 Zambians a year succumb to tobacco-related illnesses, according to World Health Organization estimates.

The campaigner stated the letter was known to have been circulated to multiple official agencies and was in distribution within public interest organizations.

International corporate influence worries

It comes amid wider concerns about business sector influence with medical guidelines. Recently, WHO officials issued a warning that the tobacco industry was increasing attempts to dilute worldwide restrictions.

“Evidence exists of business advocacy everywhere. Corporate signatures are on delayed tax increases in Indonesia, delayed regulations in Zambia and even a weakened declaration at the UN high-level meeting,” said the corporate monitoring director.

Possible outcomes

“When public health regulation fails to be approved because of this letter, the price could be paid in lives of people who might possibly give up cigarettes.”

The anti-smoking legislation going through Zambia’s parliament includes measures that exceed UK legislation by including provisions for e-cigarettes, and requiring that pictorial cautions cover three-quarters of product packaging.

Corporate counter-proposals

In the letter, BAT suggests this be lowered to 30% or 50% “following international recommended threshold”, postponed for minimum twelve months after the law is enacted.

International experts in fact recommends a warning should cover at least half of the front of a pack “and aim to cover as much of the main visible surfaces as possible”. Across the United Kingdom, warnings need to encompass 65% of a packet’s front and back.

Scented product controversy

The corporation requests the removal of broad restrictions on flavoured tobacco products, arguing that it would lead smokers to “illegally traded” products. The company proposes banning a limited selection 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 draft bill suggests penalties for various offences “varying from a fraction of annual sales to 10 years’ imprisonment”.

Business explanation

Through correspondence, the managing director of the African subsidiary says the company is dedicated to ethical business practices” and “backs the goals of governments to decrease cigarette consumption and the connected wellbeing effects” but asserts that “certain measures can have unwelcome and unexpected consequences.”

Campaigner rebuttal

The advocate stated BAT’s proposed changes would “dilute these regulations so much that the impact needed for it to create lasting transformation in society will not be achieved”.

The fact that multiple comparable regulations operated within the UK, where BAT is headquartered, was “utter hypocrisy itself”, he said.

“We reside in a connected world. When I cultivate smoking products in my back yard and gather the crop and distribute the goods – and my offspring don't use tobacco, but my community's youth consumes … to enrich myself and all the future family lines while my community's youth are perishing … is in itself complete moral failure.”

Tobacco control legislation in the United Kingdom or other countries had not resulted in corporate closures, the advocate mentioned. “Laws don't eliminate the industry. It only protects the people.”

Official corporate statement

A BAT Zambia spokesperson said: “The corporation runs its operations according with applicable local laws. Further, the corporation engages in the state's regulatory development in line with the appropriate structures which enable relevant group engagement in policymaking.”

The company was “not resisting legislation”, the representative commented, adding that young individuals should be shielded from acquiring smoking products and nicotine.

“We champion evolving legislation to accomplish desired population health targets, while recognizing the range of rights and obligations on businesses, users and involved parties,” they said, noting that BAT’s proposals “represent the situation of the Zambian market and tobacco industry, which encompasses growing volumes of black market activity”.

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