‘Complete double standard’: Cigarette corporation lobbied against regulations in Africa which are mandatory in UK

Critics have charged British American Tobacco with “total contradiction” for opposing tobacco control measures in Africa that are already in place in the UK.

African regulatory opposition

Correspondence acquired by reporters dispatched by the firm's affiliate in Zambia to the nation's political leaders requests proposals to prohibit tobacco marketing and promotional activities to be abandoned or delayed.

The company is attempting amendments to a proposed legislation that include reductions in the recommended coverage of graphic health warnings on cigarette packaging, the withdrawal of controls on flavored smoking items, and watered-down penalties 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 sustain the fatalities of the Zambian people,” said the health advocate.

Thousands of residents a year die from smoking-associated diseases, according to World Health Organization estimates.

The campaigner stated the letter was known to have been circulated to several government departments and was in circulation among community advocacy networks.

Global industry interference concerns

It comes amid expanded apprehension about industry interference with medical guidelines. Recently, global health authorities issued a warning that the cigarette manufacturers was escalating campaigns to undermine international regulations.

“Evidence exists of business advocacy everywhere. Corporate signatures are on postponed duty hikes in Indonesia, stalled legislation in Zambia and even a diluted statement at the UN international gathering,” said the corporate monitoring director.

Potential consequences

“Should anti-smoking legislation fails to be approved because of this letter, the consequences may be suffered in human lives who might potentially stop smoking.”

The tobacco control bill going through Zambia’s parliament includes proposals to go further UK legislation by extending coverage to e-cigarettes, and mandating that graphic health warnings cover three-quarters of product packaging.

Company alternative suggestions

Via documentation, BAT suggests this be lowered to 30% or 50% “within the WHO-FCTC recommended threshold”, delayed for at least twelve months after the law is enacted.

Global health authorities in fact recommends a caution must occupy at least half of the product container front “and attempt to encompass as much of the main visible surfaces as possible”. In the UK, warnings must cover sixty-five percent of a cigarette pack surfaces.

Flavored tobacco discussion

The corporation requests the elimination of comprehensive limitations on flavoured tobacco products, arguing that it would drive users to “illegally traded” products. The corporation recommends restricting fewer varieties of “scents derived from desserts, candy, energy drinks, soft drinks and alcohol drinks”. All flavoured cigarettes have been outlawed across the UK since 2020.

The draft bill recommends punishments for multiple violations “ranging from a percentage of annual turnover to a decade in prison”.

Corporate defense

Via documentation, the corporate leader of the African subsidiary states the company is dedicated to good corporate behaviour” and “supports the objectives of governments to reduce smoking incidence and the associated health impact” but claims that “some regulations can have negative and unanticipated results.”

Activist reaction

The campaigner argued BAT’s proposed changes would “dilute these regulations so much that the required influence for it to produce permanent improvement in society will not be achieved”.

The fact that many such provisions existed in the UK, where BAT is headquartered, was “utter hypocrisy itself”, he said.

“We live in a international community. Should I grow cigarettes in my property and gather the crop and sell it out – and my offspring don't use tobacco, but my neighbour’s children do … to enrich myself and all the generations of my children while my community's youth are perishing … is in itself absolute spiritual failure.”

Public health laws in the United Kingdom or other countries had failed to shutter businesses, the campaigner stated. “Legislation never shuts down the industry. It only protects the people.”

Official corporate statement

The corporate communicator stated: “The company operates its activities following with current country statutes. Additionally, the company participates in the nation's lawmaking procedures in line with the appropriate structures which allow for stakeholder participation in regulation development.”

The firm positioned itself as “not opposed to regulation”, the representative commented, noting that minors should be shielded from acquiring smoking products and nicotine.

“We advocate for developing rules to accomplish desired public health goals, while recognizing the range of privileges and responsibilities on industry, consumers and related stakeholders,” they said, mentioning that the corporation's recommendations “represent the situation of the Zambian market and smoking product business, which involves increasing amounts of black market activity”.

Zambia’s department of business, commercial affairs and industrial development was solicited for statement.