‘Utter hypocrisy’: Cigarette corporation lobbied against rules in Africa which are law in UK
British American Tobacco has been accused of “utter hypocrisy” for lobbying against tobacco control measures in Africa that currently exist in the UK.
Zambian lobbying efforts
A letter obtained by media originating from the corporation's branch in Zambia to the African officials asks for proposals to prohibit tobacco advertising and sponsorship to be abandoned or delayed.
The tobacco firm seeks modifications of a draft bill that include reductions in the proposed size of visual health alerts on cigarette packaging, the removal of restrictions on flavoured tobacco products, 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 continue the mortality of the Zambian people,” said Master Chimbala.
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 several government departments and was in circulation among community advocacy networks.
Global industry interference concerns
It comes amid broader worries about industry interference with medical guidelines. In recent weeks, international health experts sounded an alarm that the cigarette manufacturers was intensifying efforts to undermine international regulations.
“We see evidence of business advocacy everywhere. Corporate signatures are on deferred levy rises in Indonesia, delayed regulations in Zambia and even a compromised resolution at the UN summit conference,” stated the corporate monitoring director.
Potential consequences
“When public health regulation doesn't get enacted because of this letter, the consequences may be suffered in human lives who might potentially stop smoking.”
The anti-smoking legislation going through Zambia’s parliament includes proposals to go further UK legislation by also applying to e-cigarettes, and requiring that visual health alerts cover seventy-five percent of product packaging.
Corporate counter-proposals
In the letter, the corporation proposes this be decreased to less than half “following international suggested parameters”, postponed for minimum one year after the bill passes.
Global health authorities actually suggests a alert needs to encompass at least half of the front of a pack “and aim to cover as much of the principal display areas as possible”. In the UK, warnings are required to occupy 65% of a cigarette pack surfaces.
Flavored tobacco discussion
BAT asks for the withdrawal of extensive controls on flavoured tobacco products, arguing that it would lead smokers to “black market” products. It suggests banning a limited selection of “tastes inspired by desserts, candy, energy drinks, soft drinks and alcohol drinks”. Each flavored smoking item have been banned in the UK since 2020.
The proposed legislation suggests penalties for multiple violations “extending from a fraction of annual sales to a decade in prison”.
Company justification
In the letter, the corporate leader of the Zambian branch says the corporation is focused on ethical business practices” and “backs the goals of governments to reduce smoking incidence and the connected wellbeing effects” but claims that “specific rules can have unwelcome and unexpected consequences.”
Campaigner rebuttal
The campaigner argued the company's suggested modifications would “weaken this legislation so much that the necessary effect for it to produce permanent improvement in society will not be achieved”.
The circumstance that many such provisions were present in the UK, where BAT is headquartered, was “utter hypocrisy itself”, he commented.
“We reside in a international community. Should I grow cigarettes in my back yard and collect the yield and market the products – and my offspring don't use tobacco, but my community's youth consumes … to enrich myself and all the generations of my children while my neighbour’s children are perishing … is in itself complete moral failure.”
Anti-smoking regulations in the UK or elsewhere had failed to shutter businesses, the campaigner stated. “Legislation never shuts down the industry. Measures simply defend the people.”
Official corporate statement
A BAT Zambia spokesperson stated: “The company operates its activities following with relevant national regulations. Moreover, the firm contributes in the nation's lawmaking procedures in line with the appropriate structures which enable stakeholder participation in legislation creation.”
The firm positioned itself as “not resisting legislation”, the representative commented, noting that young individuals should be safeguarded against obtaining cigarettes and nicotine.
“We support progressive regulation to realize planned population health targets, while accepting the variety of entitlements and duties on businesses, users and involved parties,” the spokesperson stated, adding that the company's suggestions “mirror the circumstances of the African nation's economy and smoking product business, which includes increasing amounts of black market activity”.
The nation's ministry of economic activities and commercial operations was contacted for response.
