British American Tobacco pressures Pakistan to export 'child packs' of cigarettes to Sudan

In a joint statement,[1] 60 representatives of health organisations from 25 African countries of the African Tobacco Control Alliance (ATCA) are calling on the Pakistani government to stop British American Tobacco (BAT) from exporting packs containing only 10 cigarettes to Sudan which could encourage young people to start smoking.

In Pakistan, British American Tobacco is lobbying the government to change regulations so it can manufacture packs of 10 cigarettes and export them to Sudan and other markets where they are not banned.[2] To date, 84 parties have policies to prevent the sale of single cigarettes or “small packs.” Pakistan’s regulations are no exception to this ban. These small packs of cigarettes, known as “kiddie packs,” make it easier for younger people to buy cigarettes. They are cheaper, making cigarettes more affordable and therefore more likely to be purchased.

Children's packages banned by WHO Framework Convention

In justifying its request, BAT told the government that the amendment of the law would be "beneficial to Pakistan" because the order associated with the export to Sudan would amount to $20.5 million and could be repeated. These sales, according to BAT, would allow Pakistan to earn foreign exchange in dollars. However, Article 16 of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) stipulates that Parties to the treaty must prohibit the sale of cigarettes in small packs in order to protect minors. However, Pakistan has ratified this convention and transposed the measure into its domestic law. To reverse this provision would constitute a violation of the country's international commitments.

Africa, a key market for the tobacco industry

The signatories of the appeal do not believe BAT when it claims that these small packets would only be sold in Sudan. They contest this exception considering that the lives of young Sudanese deserve to be protected from smoking just as much as those of other young people in the world. Furthermore, they are convinced that the authorization granted for export to Sudan would be followed by other authorizations for other African countries. They point out the double language of BAT which officially claims to want to promote the "protection of children" while deploying stratagems to encourage the youngest to consume their deadly products. This strategy of the manufacturer is perceived as a serious threat to the health of African populations, already facing significant health and development challenges.

The tobacco epidemic in Africa is a relatively recent phenomenon compared to other regions of the world. Its development was linked to the liberalization of investments in the 1990s. African countries played a major role in the development of the FCTC in order to protect themselves from this major threat to the health of their population. The measures adopted have had significant results. However, the continent is experiencing rapid demographic change, mechanically leading to a sharp increase in the number of smokers. According to forecasts, Africa is expected to have approximately 84 million smokers by 2025, an increase of 61.5% compared to 2000. In addition, the young population of the African region is expected to double by 2050, which reinforces the strategic nature of these countries for tobacco manufacturers.

The coalition of signatory countries thus urge governments, international organizations and civil society to remain vigilant against the commercial strategies of BAT and the tobacco industry and to strengthen anti-smoking regulations to protect African youth. They also call for global solidarity in the fight against tobacco, stressing that protecting the health of children in a country must be a universal priority, with no exceptions.

D.T.

©Tobacco Free Generation

[1] ATCA, Protect the world's children: Don't allow British American Tobacco to export kiddie packs of cigarettes to Sudan (Africa), ATCA, published July 1, 2024, accessed July 8, 2024

[2]Appolonia Adeyemi, ATCA Alerts Nigeria On Push To Export Pakistan 'Kiddie Packs' Cigarettes To Africa, New Telegraph, published July 6, 2024, accessed July 8, 2024