‘Total contradiction’: Cigarette corporation lobbied against rules in Africa which are mandatory in UK

Critics have charged British American Tobacco with “total contradiction” for campaigning against anti-smoking regulations in Africa that are already in place in the UK.

Zambian lobbying efforts

Correspondence acquired by reporters originating from the corporation's branch in Zambia to the country’s government ministers requests proposals to prohibit tobacco advertising and sponsorship to be abandoned or delayed.

The corporation is pursuing changes to a draft bill that include lowering the proposed size of pictorial cautions on cigarette packaging, the removal of restrictions on flavored smoking items, and watered-down penalties for any businesses disregarding 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 WHO calculations.

Chimbala said the letter was understood to have been copied to various ministerial offices and was in circulating through civil society groups.

International corporate influence worries

The situation emerges alongside wider concerns about industry interference with public health regulations. Recently, international health experts raised concerns that the cigarette manufacturers was increasing attempts to weaken global control measures.

“There is proof of business advocacy everywhere. Tobacco company fingerprints are on postponed duty hikes in Indonesia, stalled legislation in Zambia and even a diluted statement at the UN international gathering,” stated the corporate monitoring director.

Potential consequences

“If a tobacco control measure isn’t passed because of this letter, the consequences may be suffered in human lives who might otherwise quit smoking.”

The public health measure being considered by Zambia’s parliament includes regulations surpassing UK legislation by including provisions for e-cigarettes, and stipulating that visual health alerts cover seventy-five percent of product packaging.

Corporate counter-proposals

Through correspondence, the corporation proposes this be lowered to thirty to fifty percent “following international guideline limits”, postponed for minimum twelve months after the bill passes.

The WHO specifically advises a alert needs to encompass at least 50% of the cigarette package face “and attempt to encompass as much of the main visible surfaces as possible”. Within Britain, warnings must cover nearly two-thirds of a product container sides.

Flavor restrictions debate

BAT asks for the withdrawal of extensive controls on flavoured tobacco products, claiming that it would push consumers toward “black market” products. It suggests restricting fewer varieties 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 proposes sanctions for multiple violations “ranging from a portion of yearly revenue to ten-year jail sentences”.

Company justification

In the letter, the corporate leader of the Zambian branch states the corporation is focused on ethical business practices” and “endorses the aims of governments to decrease cigarette consumption and the connected wellbeing effects” but claims that “specific rules can have unwelcome and unexpected consequences.”

Activist reaction

The advocate stated BAT’s proposed changes would “undermine this law so much that the required influence for it to produce permanent improvement in society will not be achieved”.

The reality that many such provisions operated within the UK, where BAT is headquartered, was “utter hypocrisy itself”, he said.

“We live in a global village. Should I grow cigarettes in my back yard and gather the crop and distribute the goods – and my family members avoid tobacco, but my neighbor's family uses … to benefit personally and all the generations of my children while my neighbor's family are dying … is in itself complete moral failure.”

Anti-smoking regulations in the United Kingdom or other countries had not caused companies to close, Chimbala said. “Laws don't eliminate the industry. Measures simply defend the people.”

Standard business position

The company representative stated: “The corporation runs its activities following with current country statutes. Further, the firm contributes in the country’s legislative process in line with the relevant frameworks which enable stakeholder participation in legislation creation.”

The company was “not resisting legislation”, the spokesperson stated, mentioning that minors should be shielded from obtaining cigarettes and nicotine.

“We support progressive regulation to realize planned population health targets, while acknowledging the spectrum of rights and obligations on corporations, customers and associated groups,” the spokesperson stated, mentioning that BAT’s proposals “reflect the realities of the local commercial environment and cigarette sector, which involves increasing amounts of illicit trade”.

The nation's ministry of trade, commerce and industry was contacted for response.