Protect the world’s children: Do not allow Tobacco to export kiddie packs of cigarettes to Zambia

By Daily News Reporter

"I urgently call to action to protect children and young adults from the harmful effects of tobacco," MASEBO 

she noted that Zambia has seen a significant increase in the sale and use of new and emerging tobacco and nicotine products, particularly among young people.

In a speech read on her behalf by Youth, Sport, and Arts Minister Elvis Nkandu during the launch of World No Tobacco Day in lusaka, she pointed out that 7,000 tobacco related deaths are recorded per year in Zambia.

She added that government has made progress in domesticating the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO-FCTC) and has introduced the Tobacco Control Bill in Parliament.

"We, public health advocates in countries across the African continent have worked tirelessly for years for the adoption and implementation of tobacco control laws and policies. Just like in other countries have passed the law, these laws protect children, vulnerable populations and the general public in Africa," she said.

In Pakistan for example and many other countries, regulations don’t allow packs smaller than 20 cigarettes to be sold. These smaller packs of cigarettes, known as “kiddie” packs, make it easier, cheaper, and more likely those children will buy them. The 20-cigarette rule is a global standard.

In Pakistan, British American Tobacco(BAT) is pushing you to change regulations so that it can manufacture 10-stick cigarette packs and export them to Sudan. However, WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control in its Article 16 calls Parties to prohibit the sale of cigarettes in small packets, which increase the affordability of such products to minors. Consequently, Pakistan as a party to the Convention should not allow manufacturing of 10-stick cigarette packs.

British American Tobacco’s claim is that it will not sell kiddie packs in Pakistan, but only in Africa. It is unconscionable that British American Tobacco (BAT) thinks it is ok to change a law on one continent in order to target vulnerable populations on another. InSudan, and other countries in Africa, people need food, medicine and other lifesaving supports. What they do not need is kiddie packs of cigarettes that put them at increased risk of tobacco addiction, diseases and death. And once BAT gets kiddie packs into one country, they will make their way across Africa.

British American Tobacco claims to care about protecting children in some parts of the world, yet in Africa, it is scheming to hook more people into its addictive products and to increase cigarette consumption.

If a product is too dangerous for one country’s children, it is too dangerous for children anywhere. Putting other people’s children at risk of tobacco addition, disease and death is unacceptable.

"Do not put African kids at risk by changing the strong tobacco control regulations in zambia," she added.